LOVED IT! My boyfriend and I bought a great Bloomspot deal and went for dinner. Staff is amazing and very attentive (Shane and Maria to be exact). The food was awesome. They make their bread in house and it's delicious- they also ask you to order some of the desserts before your meal (like the chocolate lava cake) because they make it in house! Amazing! I am so in love. Nothing bad to say! 5 stars for sure!
(5)
Ed K.
This is my new " go to" restaurant in the north end. The mushroom ravioli was magnifico! Ed from new joisey. I will be back
(5)
lauren f.
We wandered in here while visiting the North End on a weekend in October. We didn't have a reservation, but were seated promptly. Everything was fantastic - the food was delicious, the service was very good. As an appetizer we shared an order of their eggplant and a caesar salad (the salad was a huge portion btw, definitely shareable!) Entrees were the veal saltinbocca (spelling..? not sure!) and one of their specials of the night which was a mushroom ravioli. We loved everything! Recommend it, and we would visit again next time in the N, End.
(5)
Julie D.
Great atmosphere, wonderful people, and the chef made me exactly what I wanted even though it wasn't on the menu! Bravo!
(4)
Evelyn S.
Saw a Groupon Now Deal for Pellino's and decided to give it a try. Frank Pellino (chef and owner) met us at the door and saw us to a table by the windows. Complementary bread and olive oil with tomatoes and garlic started the meal; both were delicious. The waitress was friendly and knowledgeable and recommended an excellent Italian wine. My husband had the linguine with mussels/shrimp/calamari (Fruitti de Mare) and I had the linguine with clam sauce (Vongole). Both were excellent. Mine was particularly good as the clams were very fresh and had no grit. We did decide to have the lava cake, which was probably the best dessert I've ever had in a restaurant. The ice cream on the side was light and fresh; more like a not-too-sweet whipped cream. If you do get the lava cake (which I highly recommend) count on the excellent cappuccino or espresso to cut the richness. Throughout the meal, the service was attentive without being intrusive. The ambiance is typical of what I love about the North End; romantic, quiet and very, very Italian. Marble counters, linen napkins and excellent cuisine. In talking to the waitress, this location has only been open for about three weeks. For now, it is not as crowded as the frenetic restaurants on Hanover street (one block over), but I can't believe that's going to last. Once people find out about this gem, I'll have to wait in line, but it will be worth it.
(5)
Jonathan B.
Service was rushed. Was excited to try gnocchi based on reviews but was not impressed. Sauce was kind of smokey. Tried someone else's veal marsala which was delicious. Also tried the chicken with risotto which was also delicious. Usually I don't order chicken over other exotic entrees but I would have preferred it over my gnocchi.
(3)
Maribeth T.
I have to say this was one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. We arrived at your restaurant at 6:10pm on Saturday evening and was seated promptly. We then ordered wine, appetizer, salad and dinner - we were served everything all at once and within 10 minutes of ordering. I felt like we were being "processed" through the system. Within 50 minutes we had completed our entire dinner and that included 2 glasses of wine each. After the waiter told us they "only have 2 desserts" he brought the bill, came back twice to see if we were ready to pay and we left at 7:00pm Talk about feeling rushed - this was unbelievable. If you are looking to spend some time enjoying fine Italian cuisine - I would NOT recommend this place. Disappointed in Boston
(1)
C N.
Excellent food, excellent service and nice environment. This place is small but cosy, comfortable and well lit. We were seated immediately and were given attentive service. We had a waitress tending to us initially then the owner took over. From the bread to the entrees to the desert, everything is made to perfection. I chose the veal Pellino, my wife chose the lobster ravioli. The couple we ate with chose the steak and mushroom ravioli. Everything was prepared and service with class. The deserts were cranberry bread pudding and fallen chocolate cake...both were the Bomb!!! We were moaning sooo much people thought we were in pain while eating these deserts. Prices were very reasonable for the North End. HIGHLY Recommend.
(5)
Marina T.
Food was yummy but a bit expensive. We got a table right away on a busy Friday and the food came out at a good pace. Dessert was great! Not as good as I expected based on the other reviews but still was an enjoyable dinner.
(4)
Bianca T.
Horrific rude service ! I will never return ! We bought a groupon ... Nothing big just figured we would try the restaurant. We call for a reservation and the women over the phone can barely speak English and was not very friendly so we brush it off and just go hoping for the best... We arrive on Friday night at 8 pm and the place is empty .. Only one table of 4 ... The waitress comes over and we ask about the specials ... She is sarcastic, rude and can't be bothered ... So I bring up I brought the groupon and she immediately gets very close and starts demanding I show her the groupon ... I'm like calm down lady ... Can I just order and start the dining experience and we can work out the check later ... But no she gets closer and is now practically in my face an starts pointing on my iPhone where I pulled the groupon up and says "see not valid on Fridays" so I said really can you make an exception since we are already here and your empty ... She at this points at me and is irate and since I am sitting in the corner I get annoyed she has entered my personal bubble of space and asked her to please back up so we can leave .... I had a party of 7 with me ... And they didn't want to honor at $40 groupon .... Wow ... It's not the money ... Its their attitude and aggressive customer service I can't deal with ... I live a block away ... I will never return and will Never recommend this place ...
(1)
Justin B.
Awesome! Yelp came through again!
(5)
Jenny R.
I gave this restaurant 5 stars because it exceeded my standard "North End restaurant" expectations in food, service, and atmosphere. First - the food. Since I come from an Italian family and studied abroad in Italy, I can be very critical of Italian food. This place was the real deal though! While we were deciding what to order, our waiter brought us the most delicious spread to go with fresh bread - I forgot to ask what the spread was called but it tastes just a bit sweeter than bruschetta and was absolutely delicious. We then couldn't all decide on a bottle of wine, so our server brought over our top picks to sample before we picked just one (and the sampling was more than generous!). We also ordered the Eggplant Napoleon for an appetizer - again, we gobbled it up! I ordered the chicken risotto for my entree so I can only personally speak for that, but I can truthfully say that every plate at our table was clean by the end of our dinner. Also - I'd definitely recommend the chicken risotto - the risotto is made with roasted butternut squash - so it's savory and sweet at the same time and not overcooked. The chicken was very thin and had a sauce that perfectly complimented the butternut squash. Lastly - we ordered the warm Volcano lava cake for dessert as well as the Cranberry Bread pudding - more than enough for the 4 of us at the table and yet both were devoured. I promise you can't go wrong with one or the other - but I would probably just order both! You won't regret it! Our servers were absolutely attentive and generous - making sure we had everything we needed but also allowing us time to catch up with one another and take our time deciding what to order. The restaurant is also decorated to make you feel warm, invited, and give you that authentic Italian restaurant feel. We will all definitely be going back to this restaurant - and telling all our friends to go as well! Thank you Pellinos for an incredible dinner - you deserve this review!
(5)
D'dra O.
Wonderful food, terrific service made for a fantastic evening! Yes, it is tiny, but the food and wine are worth it.
(4)
F E.
The food was fine, but nothing to write home about. The pasta was fresh, but $20 for a vegetarian pasta dish that doesn't knock your socks off is too much. The one star rating though comes from the attitude of the staff- towards the end of our meal the restaurant power went off and an alarm starting sounding. Instead of being apologised to for the darkness and noise, we were told to pay and leave. Oh and that we better have cash since their card machine was also down. After paying our bill, one surly waitress came back to tell us our tip wasn't big enough and wasn't 20%. You know what, your service and food wasn't good enough. There are so many other places nearby, I won't be back. I wonder what all the other diners still in the restaurant thought of her criticism of our tip? Hope they left them less then we did.
(1)
James L.
I ate the pan roared cod ($15) and had a glass of chianti. It was fabulous in absolute standards. Beautiful interior and tasteful decorum.
(3)
Mark B.
Veal was perfect. Had seafood for lunch so was looking for a meal a little more 'grounded.'
(5)
Christne Y.
Pellino's recently took over my previous favorite Italian restaurant in the North End so I decided to give it a try. The experience was excellent! It is a family run business and the Owner/Chef, Francesco, was out and about greeting customers and serving food while the mother and daughter were hostess and waitress that night. The place is recently remodeled and very clean. The food was delicious starting with the bread and dip to the calamari appetizer and the homemade lobster raviolis and ending with their cannoli! Overall, an extremely pleasant experience and will definitely go back!
(5)
Michele C.
Our Favorite Restaurant!!! Delicious!!! We have never had anything that wasn't truly authentic italian super yummy food!!! Lasagna, meatballs, shrimp risotto, lobster raviolis....all magnificent!!! The sauce is amazing and flavorful. Oh and we can't forget to mention the eggplant carbonatte with the fresh bread!!! Also our server Dino is spectacular! Very polite, knowledgeable, and friendly!
(5)
Larry S.
Gosh this was a great meal. Our server was outstanding, the food wonderful and the evening most pleasant sitting by the open window. Ok, sounds like a lot of reviews for restaurants on the North End, in fact, we would describe our favorite restaurant we usually go to - but they were closed for a Private Party - so we had to choose a new place! So walking around hanover, so we saw the places with the long lines, we say the busy places that we knew were expensive but just "ok'. So on a whim, we walked down this side street and checked out the menus of the three restaurants, four if you include the famous/expensive place at the end, and Pellino's just called out to me, Nice wood accents, tables set nice but not overdone, and a table in the window. We asked if we, just 2, could sit there. With an arm around the shoulder, "of course" was the answer. From the wonderful fresh bread, marinated egg plant for the bread ( which was "WOW!"), to the unbelievable scallops and a lasagna, that my wife cleaned her plate. I regret not having dessert - but we will be back! I loved the the espresso cup was hot and it was a decent portion. We will be back. I do business in Boston. I will take client there. Go!!
(5)
Alexandria P.
I frequent Boston fairly often, and I've dreamed about the one other time I came here and had an amazing and delicious experience. I was so very glad to return and again thoroughly enjoy my food! The bread and some of the pasta is house made. We ordered the calamari and the bruschetta to start. The calamari was perfection. The right amount of crispy without being greasy, salted perfectly and the marinara sauce tasted house made. The bruschetta was a little oily but decent. I ordered the shrimp scampi with angel hair. The portion was fairly large. Flavor was very tasty, the shrimp were jumbo, and who doesn't love that?! Our waiter was friendly and courteous even though we plagued him with a million questions and asked him to take our photo (yes, we were THOSE people ;) hey what can I say, some occasions call for being a little over the top) Definitely give this place a try! You won't be disappointed!
(4)
Sonia N.
Subletting in North End for the time being and jumped for joy when I found a Groupon for a place rated 4 stars on Yelp. My best friend and I strolled in on Friday night with an open mind and empty stomachs after a long work week. For starters, we shared the pesto mussels and the stuffed mushrooms. Both were quite delish and went well with our bottle of Simi Pinot Noir. Excited, we waited patiently for the Frutti di Mare and Pan Roasted Cod. Admittedly, it wasn't bad but really wasn't great either. It was missing that X factor you expect from North End food - way too mild but tasted better after adding some table salt and red pepper flakes to the dishes. Service was friendly and efficient. We didn't need to look around to ask for anything but at the same time, our server was never intrusive either. We ended our meals with the cranberry bread pudding and chocolate lava cake which were both prepared very well. We (or maybe just I) finished every last morsel. Highly recommended. Overall, this place is a solid 4 stars on the appetizers and dessert but sadly, the entrees just didn't quite meet our expectations. If I do visit again, I'd definitely go for another one of their entrees.
(3)
Noelle B.
My mother and I went into Boston for the afternoon. Prior to driving in I looked up restaurants in the area. Being from Boston and spending my childhood at my nonni's I very rarely ate in the north end itself. We decided on this restaurant and we were very glad we did! Nestled on a cozy side street off of Hanover street, upon entering this restaurant you are transported to a little part of Italy in Boston. The service was great. They even accommodated and help carry in our baby stroller. Now onto the best part the food. I ordered the lobster ravioli and my mother had the chicken cacciatore. Both dishes were delicious and fresh. The lobster ravioli had tons of flavor. The bread that they bring out is hot and doughy, just the way I like it! We did not drink any alcoholic beverage but they had a decent wine list. Afterwards I had the tiramisu which was so moist and decadent, I was in heaven. All in all this is a great restaurant with great service and even better food. I am definitely going to go back and try their dinner menu.
(5)
Joleen Q.
This is a charming place! There were definitely regulars here. The bread was hard for my liking. Best gnocchi you will have unless you are in Italy! I got it with meat sauce. Delicious!! I had my luggage and the staff was very accommodating.
(5)
Greg L.
What a find if you are looking for a great Italian restaurant NOT on Hanover (the main drag of the North End)! Pellino's is located about halfway down Hanover on a side road called Prince St. We went on a Saturday night without a reservation and could not have been more pleased with the food and the service. We were greeted by a friendly lady who was going to sit us at a table for two when the window table opened up and she agreed to prepare it for us if we would just give her a few minutes. We then were lucky to have as our waiter, Sal. He was easy to talk to, provided excellent table service and made our evening that much more enjoyable. Sal brought bread to the table and this "eggplant tapenade jelly" that was unbelievably great! We had the little neck clams for an appetizer and they were served in a flavorful bowl of garlic and butter. Heaven! I had the pappardelle bolognaise which was incredible. I was planning to get the chicken marsala, but then when I saw that the pasta was made fresh daily I switched to the pappardelle and was so glad I did. I cannot remember when I had such a fantastic and flavorful dish. My friend had the homemade lasagna and although she rarely can finish a complete Italian dish, she savored this one (as I did mine) and enjoyed every bit of it. We were so happy we decided to take a detour off of Hanover and discovered this little gem. Give it a try!
(5)
Ross G.
Just went for my birthday, the food was amazing and service was top notch. We ordered two appetizers, arancini and chicken parm spring rolls. Both were five star. I had pinot grigio with a side of cheese ravioli. The smoked mozzarella flavor was outstanding. My friend got the chicken risotto which looked delicious. The service was flawless, will definitely be back. Hopefully with more room next time for dessert. Location is also very good, if you want a break from the busy Hanover places. This is right around the corner, not a far walk.
(4)
S C.
Ended up off Hanover during feast. I will be back. We have favorites in the North End in my family, but we each really loved our food here. The best sauce I can remember having. Truly.
(5)
Alexis B.
Get the Groupon! Such a great deal- $60 for two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts. I never would have gone to this place without being lured in by a good deal. We went on the early side, we had a reservation and were seated right away. Appetizers - Pesto Mussels and Calamari Both were fresh and really really good. The pesto was homemade really was very yummy. Entrees- Rack of Lamb and Veal Siciliano The Rack of Lamb was an extra $15 and it was totally worth it. If you like lamb you MUST get this. It was tender and flavorful. The veal was basically veal marsala. I would have liked a bit more mushrooms but it was good too. It was hard to focus on anything but the lamb to be honest. Luckily my dining partner was generous and let me have some. Dessert- Chocolate Lava Cake and Cranberry Bread Pudding I don't really like dessert but both were delicious. The bread pudding was awesome. The waitstaff was friendly and helpful, and the food was good. I would definitely come again.
(4)
Oliver D.
Super small space. Cozy. 20 mins order to entree. Nice veal! Risotto seemed under cooked. Not creamy. Light Rich tiramisu. What's with the coffee machine downstairs outside the bathroom???
(4)
Michael L.
Our first time in Boston and we were excited to try a four star restaurant. We were surprisingly disappointed the food was just kind of regular and leaning towards the bland side. We had their spaghetti and meatball, chicken marsala, and penne w/meat sauce.
(2)
Kate S.
I lived in the North End for several years and really wanted to try this place as the decor is really nice and there seemed to always be a line...my parents and I tried it and it really wasn't good :( The sauce tasted really earthy and not fresh - and the homemade papardelle stuck together in one big pile. Cheese on top of the chicken parm wasn't melted and the chicken tasted frozen. We were really disappointed. I hate having to write a review like this, but I guess it can only help the restaurant after all.
(2)
Chaz H.
My girlfriend ordered their fresh pasta with chicken in vodka sauce and ended up getting sick and spending a half hour in their cramped single bathroom. Would not recommend. I don't write reviews in yelp, but the public need be warned. I spoke to management and they blamed the sickness on her and did not do anything else. Update: We are home and she is still not doing well.
(1)
Steve W.
Everything as I expected and great service. Very efficient staff and nice environment.
(5)
Joey E.
Great place to eat in North End Boston. Had their clams appetizer - delicate and tasty. Ordered one of their daily specials - veal amalfi and their seafood pasta. Nothing was overpowering in taste and everything was cooked perfectly. Would love to go back!
(4)
Vivian C.
Another voucher, another visit. And on this visit I noticed how noisy the room was, and how closely set the tables were. Their tables for two are ideally sized for unshared dishes, however we made do with the surface area afforded by the table, and stretched out onto the ledge located behind me below the cubby-holes filled with wine bottles. Their bread was so soft and yummy (and baked in the restaurant!), especially when I topped mine with some of the sweet and tasty eggplant caponata and a sprinkle of Parmesan. For appetizers I had originally considered the Eggplant Napoleon $12, however the portion run over to the ladies at a neighboring table was quite dainty. The Fried Calamari $13 seemed more rightly portioned for the price. And it was tasty. The hoops of squid (sadly no tenacles in sight) were fried only to a light crisp, retained long enough as the warm marinara was wisely served on the side. The sweetly dressed greens served alongside made the dish seem a tad more healthy and bountiful. To my dismay, the leftover appetizer was stowed for us in a styrofoam clamshell doused with the red stuff, hinting at the sodden mess it will be at its next showing. Yes, I did want the marinara, but I was hoping it would be encased separately from the calamari. I considered the veal amalfi entree special (quoted at $30), but selected instead the Veal Saltinbocca $23 (tender medallions; topped with sage, prosciutto, spinach & Mozzarella with a side of penne pasta) and the Salmon Agrodolce $23 (caramelized onions, red roasted pepper -sweet/wild sauce, fine herbs with a side of penne pasta) to be shared between the two of us. With penne served alongside both options, for a bit of variety, I inquired as to whether we could swap out one for a side of the seafood infused spinach risotto I had noticed in the pan roasted cod listed on the menu. I was told I could add the risotto as a side for $4, but I could not swap the two. Oddly enough, however, when the two plates of protein arrived, the only carb to come with was the small bowl of risotto. I had to ask for the missing penne, and not once, but twice, as each time I asked, only one portion was served. The salmon arrived a thicker portion than at most other establishments, and was covered with a tasty sauce, however the fish itself was a bit overcooked. The veal was tender. The penne on the wrong side of al dente. The risotto creamy but light on flavor. But the tiramisu $8 did much to redeem the lackluster second course. It had a slightly bitter, though not unpleasant flavor that caught my attention. Though perhaps not the best I have ever had, it was still quite good. The ricotta pie $11 (courtesy of The Cake Boss - this week's special) was good as well, but I preferred the tiramisu. I also didn't appreciate that I wasn't told the price when I had inquired about it, so I was surprised to see it listed at $11 when the bill came. Service was a bit mixed. My water was refilled, however I had to inquire about each special that I had noticed on the board displayed outside, as neither was offered to me as an option by our server. By the time I got home, the inside of my plastic doggie bag was painted with leftover sauce that had leaked out of the styrofoam clamshells - perhaps Brookline's recent decision to nix the stuff isn't all that bad an idea... PS - I spied a second portion of the eggplant napolean make its way to another table, to a male diner, and it was 3x taller and just as wide as the lady's portion I had noticed earlier. I guess their portions aren't very consistent. Validation for Parcel 7 parking available here.
(3)
Ali M.
If I could eat here every day I would. I had a groupon which included 2 apps, 2 entrees and 2 desserts. We started out with a bottle of chianti, mussels and arancini. We were so excited for our entrees because of how amazing the appetizers were. For dinner, I ordered the lobster ravioli and my friend ordered veal parm. We figured we would both order something we wouldn't normally, and share. Everything was far past amazing. The veal was so tender and the ravioli were stuffed with lobster. For dessert, we ordered the bread pudding which is my favorite dessert and tiramisu. The bread pudding is freshly made so it comes out hot and both were to die for. I will definitely be going back, with or without that groupon.
(5)
ILya G.
Main entree was ok, not imprased how ever dessert was great. Staff was friendly, they could make suggestions about food. Only reason i give them five stars is that i could enjoy the food by myself there was not a soul in the restorant.
(5)
Ben H.
It was a nice place with friendly service. I was impressed with their baked cod over risotto. The Bolognese was cold yet the sauce was light and tasty. The bread was fresh and we were happy to receive a 2nd basket.
(4)
Don W.
Wow! What a treasure! We are visiting Boston...we got some advice to eat on Hanover Street if we wanted Italian food so we accidentally stumbled in for a bite. Wow wow wow. Totally awesome service...handmade pasta and gnocchi...Yum Yum Yum.... Ok here's the lowdown. .. Price: it's Boston but still very reasonable (for Boston) Lunch with appetizer, two entres, and a glass of red wine under $50. Service: Shane was excellent, knowledgeable attentive and fun. Delightful service. Atmosphere: bring your fiance or family or boss. Anyone would be at home here. Finally. ...food..: scrumptious, generous, hot, tasty, basically heavenly! I live in Austin but I'd drive here for a meal. Definitely on my "Gotta eat here next time I'm in town" list. I loved it....
(5)
Anasuya M.
We bought a Groupon for the place for dinner. The restaurant seems very short staffed - only three servers for about 50 people dining at a time. Our server, though pretty apologetic for how crazy it was even forgot to give us cutlery when the appetizers had arrived. The bruschetta arrived cold - it honestly seemed with stale bread with salsa on top. No warm, authentic Italian-ness. The Arancini was decent, which was the saving grace of the entire meal. The Sangria was unimpressive. For entrees we ordered the gnocchi and the veal amalfi. The mushrooms in the amalfi were not washed properly - I could taste sand in my mouth. Overall, it definitely wasn't worth the Groupon and I don't recommend this place at all.
(1)
Margaret C.
We bought out Pellino's Ristorante for an evening in the middle of last winter. We had at that time, perhaps 90" of snow on the ground. It was misery! But Frank Pellino and his staff made us LOVE the snow! Ok. A bit of a stretch... But we stepped into Pellino's where the atmosphere was quaint, warm, welcoming and so incredibly aeromatic. My coworkers, their families/SO's and I dined on Eggplant Napoleon - thin layers of eggplant with fresh tomato sauce & mozzarella.. Penne al Pomodoro.. Salmon Margherita in fresh lemon and pino grigio wine sauce with sweet red, roasted peppers & capers, Veal Saltinbocca - it was incredible.. It consisted of veal medallions topped with prosciutto, sage, spinach and mozzarella in a veal wine demiglaze. And some also enjoyed Chicken Marsala.. Chicken breast with wild mushrooms, caramelized onions in Marsala wine sauce.. We ended things with Limoncello and/or Tiramisu. It was a wonderful evening! Pricing was so reasonable, we hired 128 Coach to transport those apprehensive about driving into the city with so much snow on the roads.
(4)
Kim H.
Loved this little place! Had a great groupon (always makes ya nervous!) that said, Dino waited on us and ensured we had a great evening, great meal and portions for 4!!! (Not 2!!) we're picky and we'd come again!
(5)
Alyssa S.
3.5 stars As a Boston native, I was a little embarrassed that I've never been to the North End. Over the summer, my boyfriend and I finally made a trip and landed at Pellino's. There are so many restaurants to choose from, but I'm happy we tried this place! The servers were efficient, and our meal was very good. A small restaurant, there were three other parties there, which filled up more than half the dining room. I'm not sure if I'll return, but more so because there are so many other options in the North End...
(4)
George M.
The food was pretty good but it doesn't justify the price. The portions were very small. Three tiny meatballs for $12.00 and for a glass of house wine for $10.50 for a small pour, 4 ounces at best. We will never go back.
(2)
John H.
An unprepossessing Italian restaurant whose fresh pasta and friendly service make it a local standout. Our server, Dino, was knowledgeable about the wine list, made excellent suggestions and was attentive throughout the evening. Our pasta dishes were outstanding and generous enough to defy anyone from finishing their entire plate.
(5)
Stella S.
It's very easy to fall into tourist traps in the northend and leave hungry and unhappy. In order to avoid that, I suggest you dine at Pellino's! They have the best homemade gnocchi in town, and the staff is very accommodating. For dessert, we shared the chocolate cake, which was out of this world!! Seriously, order this! You won't be disappointed and you will leave happy and satisfied! :)
(5)
Xiao L.
The best part of this restaurant is always having seats when the other popular ones have a mile-long line. Lobster ravioli is ok. However, it looks more like a $$$ one - even the starter is quite pricy. The two of us ended up paying $85 for 1 starter and 2 entrees + tax and tips.
(4)
Krisztina C.
Delicious! Walked right in after being told by a restaurant down the street said "it'll be 20 min"...turned into 40+! At Pellino's, still serving lunch, prices reasonable, portions great, would just say the bottled sangria was a little over priced, but man that was some good marinara! Service was wonderful, friendly and attentive. Definitely coming back! Oh and we had the angel hair and meatballs and eggplant parmigiana....yum!
(4)
Francesca L.
I have no idea how the food is because they refused to seat us. We walked in at about 6 on a Saturday evening and the restaurant was about half full. When the waitress saw us, she asked if we needed a table for two. I said it was two adults and a baby. At that point, she suddenly changed her tune and said they had nothing available and were completely booked starting at 6. If they refuse to seat children, they should just be forthcoming and say so. As we left, another group was leaving who said the food was disappointing and we weren't missing anything. We found another restaurant in the area (Al Dente) that was more acommadating and had a great dinner there instead.
(1)
Samantha L.
It's hard to find a restaurant with table availability on a Saturday night without a reservation. My family and I picked this restaurant because it had the shortest wait (30 minutes). My mom ordered Pan Roasted Cod, which was served on a bed of spinach risotto and laced with basil oil. The fish was cooked to perfection. My dad ordered Chicken Risotto, which was described as boneless breast deglazed in a marsala wine served with roasted spinach risotto. The chicken was delicious. The risotto was under-cooked and hard to digest. It gave us all heartburn. My brother ordered the 'Veal Amalfi' special, which was tender, slices of veal wrapped/stuffed with spinach, mushroom, peppers, and cheese. It was quiet the ambrosial experience - rich in flavor. I ordered the Gnocchi Amatriciana, which was described as potato dumplings served with crisp pancetta, caramelized onions, tomato, and smoked mozzarella. The gnocchi were hard - stale or over-floured. However, the tomato sauce was full of aroma.
(3)
Angela C.
Even among the many great Italian restaurants in the North End, this is a hidden gem. Al dente pasta, superb service, and a chocolate lava cake to die for. Make sure to order that in advance because it takes 40 min to prepare!
(5)
Tracy A.
We were told that Italian food in the North End was a must for any Boston visit, and we were looking forward to this meal! We were told to try one "off the beaten path", and Pellino's looked pleasant and inviting. The interior was nice, and we enjoyed sitting with windows open to the street. Service was very friendly. Aside from that, the meal was a big disappointment. No homemade sangria, it was from a bottle (red guitar). It was mediocre and overpriced ($38). The meals were all very low flavor, could have been Ragu from a jar, as far as I could tell. No lovely flavors of garlic or basil or fresh tomato. We had the lobster bisque (thin and underflavored; salt and pepper made it edible), Linguine Frutti de Mare (meh), and one of the specials (lamb osso bucco, I think, it was my husband's), which was "ok". Deeply disappointing, given the hopes we had, and very expensive for what we got (bill was $140 with a single bottle of sangria, two meals and two kids' meals). Tipping the requisite $30 was just painful. Oh well.
(2)
Sheila G.
Had a late lunch, 6 adults, 1 toddler and a baby. They accommodated us well. Bread: warm, soft on the inside, nice crust on the outside. 2 appetizers: meatballs (3) and bruschetta. Entrees: chicken Marsala, chicken parm, eggplant parm, lobster ravioli, angel hair and meatballs. Everyone said their meal was an 8. The marinara was yummy. Homemade everyday. Wait staff were friendly and attentive. We would recommend.
(4)
Joe S.
Convenient location, nice space that's stereotypical of the area. Bruschetta was good but the Caprese had unripened tomatoes and tough mozzarella. Meatballs were ok -- dense and not too tasty with a watery sauce. Main course was a tough chicken and OK'ish pasta. So-so service... not bad just nothing special. Bottom line is that the place is not terrible but there are many more better options.
(3)
B L.
What a great restaurant! We asked if they had a cream sauces available and they replied that they were not on the menu, but preparation was no problem. We had cheese raviolis (with meatballs) and pasta with cream sauce (Alfredo); they were both excellent! We finished it off with a lava cake desert, which was amazing! A really nice find in North End!
(5)
Thomas R.
For a comfortable and easily available place in the North End, I give this four stars for its price/value ratio. The potion sizes where good, the taste was very pleasant. Nothing spectacular about this restaurant so if you're looking to have a very special meal like an anniversary, don't go here. But if you're looking for a night out with solid Italian fare in the North End without breaking the bank, this place will do the trick. Note to owner: Please get rid of the TV. It is very distracting and takes away from the (otherwise fine) decor and ambiance of your establishment.
(4)
Sarah B.
Waiter was rude and refused to split the bill between 3 credit cards. Bad service overall. Wouldn't recommend
(1)
Kathryn K.
Went with my girlfriends for lunch. The atmosphere was intimate and relaxed. The food was excellent. We ordered chicken penne pesto, chicken piccata, and veal saltibaccino. (Sp?) We loved it!
(5)
Yuriy G.
Really nice and approachable North End dining. Went here with a LivingSocial voucher and it was a surprisingly delicious meal. We had the Eggplant Napoleon appetizer (delicious!) and the Calamari (also, very nicely fried - not too overdone or rubbery or anything, just right!). We shared an entree and tried to stick to the homemade pastas as options. We chose the Wild Mushroom pasta dish, which was a great choice. They did split our portion even though we did not ask for this (and charged $4 for this unrequested 'favor', which was quite annoying). The bread that comes out while you wait is heavenly. Overall, they have some really nice freshly made items which are worth focusing on. Could use some refinement and it's not exactly a 'fancy' joint but definitely delicious fare and great potential!
(4)
Tara L.
It was OK. I live in Boston and have been to a lot of the places in North end. It's not the best, but wasn't the worst. The service was great. I'll give them that. The waiter was very friendly and attentive. Also they take open table reservations which is nice and convenient. The dip that come with the bread is very good. a nice unique touch. We had the eggplant Napoleon appetizer which was ok, the gnocchi, and the pappardelle bolognese. We were really excited to try the gnocchi after other good reviews, but the smoky mozzarella sauce was a little overpowering. We both preferred the bolognese sauce. The pasta itself in both dishes was well made- fresh and very light .
(3)
Blake S.
Stopped in for lunch walking by, awesome food, great service, perfect atmosphere. Very Italian! I really enjoyed it! A little pricey, mainly because of the drinks, but worth a visit.
(4)
T. P.
Our first impression was that this place was way too small. The waitress showed us our table and I declined because I would have had to ask the people at the tables around me to all push in their chairs just to get to our tiny table, which was against a wall on one side, and touching another table on the other. I do not like to sit on top of people ever. Especially while I eat. I kindly declined the table and she showed me to another, which had an aisle on one side and another table on the other, so although we were very close to the people next to us, we at least had room on the aisle side. The waiter came and brought us water and we were not sitting for more than 3 minutes when the hostess offered us another table. This time it was an aisle table with an empty one next to us.. PERFECT! Lots of space now and A+ for the customer service! Our waiter, I think his name was Shane, was awesome! He was friendly and funny and by the end of the night we were telling stories and shaking hands. The bruschetta was less than average, nothing special. The bread wasn't even warm. I would not order this again. I have had much better at many other places. The green salad however, had a delicious honey balsamic dressing on it. I want to make it at home! I ordered the gnocchi, which was cooked perfectly, I just felt like the smoked mozzarella was a little overpowering. My boyfriend had the lasagna. Which he enjoyed and I also tried it and thought it was good also. For dessert we shared the volcano cake, which I thought was good but just was too full to finish. Overall 4 stars only because the restaurant being so small (but great at accommodating) and the food could be enhanced a little bit. But I do think that we will be back in the future. Customer service always wins in my book. Even if the food isn't as 100% as the service.
(4)
Joelle K.
My husband an I enjoyed our anniversary dinner here. The restaurant is nice and intimate. The servers were very attentive to us throughout our visit. We shared a bottle of wine and started with the caesar salad and some bread. We then moved on to lobster ravioli and lasagna for our entrees. Both were delicious! The nice thing about this restaurant is that it is a bit removed from Hanover street, so you can enjoy a great meal without the hassle of an extended wait time.
(4)
Polly E.
Great place off the beaten path. Order the lobster ravioli, chicken pesto penne and veal saltimboca. Very good dishes
(4)
Joseph F.
Second best restaurant in Boston (well north end but whatever). I went to watch the Brazil-Germany world cup game and even though the game sucked, the dining experience did not. The waiters were so friendly and talked endless hours of soccer with us, which was really cool. And the food of course was phenomenal. The lasagna or the meatballs are the best things on the menu personally. Although it is a smaller restaurant size, it's still nice and comfortable. Definitely go to this place if you're visiting north end!
(5)
Melissa K.
I went on a weekend for dinner with the girls. The restaurant was small and cute. Our food was amazing and the pasta was homemade. Our food came out really fast.
(4)
Janet S.
My husband and I were visiting from Maryland, we were new to the north end and didn't know where to eat other than we didn't want a noisy, crowded restaurant. The waiter invited us in. How nice is that? I had the grilled asparagus appetizer, it was perfect, and the 3 cheese ravioli which was smokey and tangy and warm. We had a good bottle of wine that complimented the food. We shared a tiramisu and were glad we skipped the dessert in a box on main street idea. Excellent food, nice quiet dining room for talking, and inviting attentive service. Woohoo, as good as it gets in my book!
(5)
Scott S.
A very good, solid Italian spot. It is small and had no host, but the waiter, though busy, did a great job. I had the three cheese ravioli, it was delicious. My wife loved her meal as well. They ran out if tea??? Seemed odd... So we were stuck with water. That was kind of a bummer but all in all, we were happy. I would go back happily.
(4)
Karen R.
First time at this restaurant and will definitely return. My son and I were looking to try a new restaurant and we were not disappointed when we stumbled upon Pellino's. We were invited in by the manager and seated right away (what a treat ..no wait!). The arancini was delightful. Crispy on outside warm and cheesy inside. The bread was warm and fresh, I had the homemade gnocchi with a yummy sauce made with pancetta. My son had chicken parm. He said part of it was a bit overcooked, but the rest was the best he ever had. Service was fast and friendly. A great hidden gem!!!
(4)
Tzook R.
Perfection in every bite! Seriously!
(5)
Owen C.
Small restaurant off the beaten path. Personally I think those are the best ones, not the main stream stops. A deal voucher took my wife and I there, and we continue to go back for the food, wine and service.
(5)
Jeff K.
Life's short, eat dessert first! I'll tell you first thing I'm getting next time I sit down at Pellino's, and I will be sitting down again at Pellino's, are the biscotti's. Amazing way to finish the meal so it's gotta be perfect to start the meal. I was there this past Tuesday night, had reservations and a great seat up front with another couple. The hostess, waitress and even my friends were all nice. We all started with salads (not the hostess and waitress, just my friends. We had the caprese (loved it with homemade mozzarella), mesclun greens salads and all were great. Eggplant special was excellent and so was the Chicken Risotto dish and the Chicken Bianco. Wine rounded the night out and all was perfect! Chef / Owner came out and thanked us for coming and I'll tell you... Such a nice dinner spot, a welcome addition to the North End considering the crappy restaurant before Pellino's refurbished the whole inside making it cleaner, better and inviting. We'll be back!
(5)
Shelly C.
Fantastic little place with a great location and atmosphere! We had the Lobster Ravioli and Homemade Lasagna....both delicious! Lobster Ravioli had chunks of lobster and a delicious creamy sauce. My husband loved the Lasagna! Service was great!
(4)
Jeremy W.
Came here with a livingsocial deal. Waiting staff was great! The food was pretty solid too. I got the Chicken Risotto and it was good, but not that memorable in my opinion. I would definitely give this place another chance, maybe the livingsocial deal dulled my experience. I'll have to try something else as well to make a better judgement. But Overall, definitely a solid place in the North End
(3)
Sunny M.
This restaurant was a great find off the freedom trail around the corner from the Revere house! The food was fresh and delicious! I had the meatball sandwich and the meatballs were moist and tasty, my mom and the gnocchi and she loved it, I did too when she offered to let me try. They also serve warm bread with your meal that Was wonderful!
(4)
S T.
I tend to stay clear of the main streets in the North End. Being on the main street doesn't always mean it's good. This place was off the beaten path and down a cute, cobblestone side way. I think it's around the corner of Mama Maria's and Paul Revere's house. We came in at around 4:00-ish on a bustling July 4th holiday. It was sweltering hot in Boston and we didn't want to walk any further. Most places were closed but luckily this cute little place was opened. They gave us a choice of three menus... the specials, the lunch, and dinner. Since we were border lining dinner time the place gave options for the guest. We had the Angel Hair Meatball, Shrimp Risotto, and Lobster ravioli. They were all delicious. I wasn't a fan of my sister's Angel Hair Meatball but the sauce was great. My shrimp risotto is yummy, there were 5 jumbo shrimps. My sister says it tasted a little raw but I liked a little bit of bite. The desert had to be ordered ahead of time. I'll definitely come again if ever I'm in the neighborhood.
(4)
Sami M.
Found Pellino's on Groupon and my mom and I decided to give it a shot as she was up visiting me. I have been to many other places on Hanover, but never Pellino's - very happy we gave it a shot! I am not a huge wine drinker, but the waitress gave me a few options and told me that I could try any of the house options. Appetizer-wise, we started off with the mussels and chicken parm springrolls and both were delicious. The dinner portions were huge - lobster ravioli for me and the special lasagna for mom. We tried both of the cooked to order desserts available (molten cake and bread pudding) and were happy we saved room for dessert. The service was phenomenal - the owner served us all night and was knowledgable and just the right amount of friendly. Definitely planning a trip back here!
Fantastic Italian restaurant in the North End! Service was very friendly and the food delicious. I had the lobster special and it was delicious. The bread was house made, served warm and accompanied by a wonderful eggplant/tomato dip. House made butternut ravioli were great.
(5)
Brent W.
I was told that, if I had time to do just one thing in Boston, then I had to had to had to get Italian food at the North End. I would probably not give this advice to anyone else, based on my experience at Pellino's. The service was great, server was very attentive, funny, and honest with recommendations. That was probably because of the fact there were only 2 other parties in this small restaurant off the main street of Little Italy, which was classy enough but didn't seem to draw too much interest. Usually location doesn't matter if reputation precedes it (I'm thinking of all these places with awful parking in dark corners of LA that have lines out the door). Food was okay. I must not "get" Italian food, because I don't understand why, for $25, I got 3 small pieces of pretty boring chicken in a cream sauce with capers, and a side of half-heartedly thrown together pasta in a small bowl. This was completely unsurprising, because I've had similar experiences from other Italian restaurants. Not that I don't like "Italian". Honestly I prefer the Alfredo and Scampi from Coco's to any Italian I've paid $20-30 for. If that's the equivalent of saying I prefer Panda Express to Chinese food in SF or Monterey Park in LA, then so be it. But compared to other places of other cuisines I've had in this price range, Pellino's was disappointing. Shoulda just got another bowl of chowda.
(2)
Bob S.
Hanover Street was packed Saturday night (as usual) and our regular go-to restaurants had huge waits. So wandered into Pellino's. It was really good. My wife had the Cod and Risotto (which was perfect, creamy and delicious) and I had the 3-Cheese Ravioli and Meatballs. I've eaten a lot of meatballs and these were outstanding, the ravioli as fresh and good as it gets (we are not tourists and know good Italian cooking). Pellino's is going into the rotation. Well done!
(4)
Dave C.
My friend and I randomly stumbled upon this place and we walked around the North End. She got the Chicken and I got the gnocchi. Half way through the meal we switch dishes so we could try both of them. After we were finished the vote was that the gnocchi was a five star dish and the chicken was a three star.....so you know what I recommend if you go here! This is some great Italian food.
(4)
Hoa N.
very disappointed with the food and the service We came here after having a good time at Blink. We arrived at the restaurant around 6:30 and the waitress quickly seated us, a group of 5. The restaurant is small, lively, and quite charming. But the service was not as great as the interior-look. The lady asked us what we wanted and was a bit annoyed when we needed a bit of time to decide. After we had decided what we wanted, she took our orders and as quick as two minutes, the food came out. I mean... it was very quick. We didn't have time to move into the last part of our first conversation, we had to eat because the food was here. The bruschetta was so sad. The bread was cold and it was like.. just a bunch of tomatoes were put on top of the the bread. It was tasteless. Compared to Panza's bruschetta, this was so just extremely disappointing. I had the porcini ravioli and the ravioli was just undercooked. The food wasn't warm enough. The waitress was not as attentive. At one point, i think she ignored us. Even though we were still eating, I felt that they wanted to clear the table and rush us out as soon as they can so the next group of people could come in and this happened when we were there for just 30 mins! All and all, we completed our meals (5 of us) in just under 45 minutes and left the restaurant unimpressed with the way the food was cooked and how we were treated. With the amount of money that we had to pay for each dish, I would rather eat elsewhere. I would not come back to this restaurant.
(2)
Christina W.
I went here with my boyfriend and friend during a weekend trip to Boston, mostly because of the reviews on Yelp. I'm so happy that I listened! My gnocchi was scrumptious...so good that I took home what I couldn't finish and ate it at the hotel the next morning. The others' meals were awesome too...a bolognese dish and a pesto dish. Even better was the quick service. Seriously, we arrived an hour before our reservation because it was pouring rain and we couldn't be outside anymore, and we were seated with no problem. Small place, but very airy and open. We immediately got water, bread, and our orders in, and food was out in no time. They refilled our waters just enough, checked on us just enough without hanging on top of our heads, and really ensured that we were comfortable throughout our stay. We were too full for dessert so I unfortunately can't comment on that. There was just enough food; perfect portions. We went around the corner to Mike's Pastry for cannolis to go afterward. Kind of a must if you're staying in Boston, I guess!
(5)
Tim N.
Both quality of service and food are important to me when I dine out, so I was pleasantly surprised that both were on par with fine dining restaurants around the nation. Anthony, our (young) waiter, was very attentive, professional and couldn't be stumped by my dinner companion; my surly father (who has Asperger's and can be a pain in the ass). Without going into too much detail, his meal, which was not prepared the way he ordered, (grated Paramesan came lightly sprinkled on his dish, even though he had ordered it 'without cheese'), was sent back and a new plate, with a different type of pasta - spaghetti, instead of tagliatelle (because he didn't like how thick the noodles were), came out before I could even take four bites of my meal. Anthony, ever accommodating, even offered to take half off the price of my father's meal because of the mix-up, but we insisted that was not necessary. The food at the restaurant is definitely homestyle, not in the vein of ridiculously large portions that you'd find at a chain, but in the sense that it could have been cooked by your grandmother. It is that good. Those who frequented Giovanni's, which inhabited the space prior to Pellino's, won't be disappointed. In fact, the place has had a make-over. However, it is still small, with less than 20 tables. It's not a place you go to 'relax', but hardly any restaurant in the North End has the amount space which allows one such a luxury during dinner. The mayor of Somerville was there with his wife the night I was, at the table across, along with their kids. It certainly seemed as if his wife had enjoyed her meal and bottle(s) of wine.
(4)
Corey J.
Amazing! Food was fresh and staff was great! Definitely coming back here!!! All you heard was Ohhh and Ahhh's because the foo was so good.
(5)
Karen H.
So I've been to Pellino's twice. The first time was with a groupon and it was AMAZING. I loved everything about it. Service was at times slow but everyone is very friendly there. We ordered the Calamari in Padella as an app - it was only ok. I think the fried Calamari would have been a better choice. I then ordered the lobster ravioli and my boyfriend got the Linguini Frutti Di Mare and both dishes were superb. The reason why I'm giving 3 stars rather than the 5 is because the second time, I went back with high expectations and found it much less enjoyable. I brought my boyfriend and his family and we each ordered something different and they were all medicore - . The Chicken Risotto wasn't very moist and tender but rather tough and the Linguini Vongole lacked flavor. However, our appetizer, the Mussels, were delicious. All in all, I didn't use a groupon this time and payed the full amount and really didn't think it was worth the money spent. I might go back a 3rd time but I'm not sure...
(3)
Nathan B.
Excellent food and service. Don't let that it's off the beaten path scare you. The mushroom ravioli was fantastic. Terrific wine prices as well.
(4)
Shaun S.
Without a reservation, my wife and I headed to the North End on our last night in town. After spying some long lines elsewhere, I noticed a 2-top table here and we were seated quickly. Sitting next to us was another couple who had been a long-time patron of Pellino's and we got the whole run down of the area, the history of the restaurant and more. What a great ad to our experience while in Boston. We started with the Bruschetta of which my wife has a small addiction, only second to her guacamole addiction. We were blown away, it wasn't a huge portion, which in ways is actually kinda nice. But the flavor was huge, garlic and fresh tomatoes exploded on your tongue! Quickly our food came and the talk stopped and the chewing began. I had the very nice Gnocci w/ al Amatricana sauce and we both couldn't stop singing the praises about the freshness of the food. We like a few nice places here in Chicago, but this takes the cake (or cannoli!)
(5)
L B.
I came to this restaurant with a groupon and a recommendation from a friend. The service was great. The restaurant was empty and it was a Friday night but the restaurants off of the Main Street don't always get as much traffic. The waitress was very attentive and friendly. They serve bread with an eggplant spread which was delicious. For an appetizer, we had eggplant and muscles and both were great. The entrees were where it went downhill for us. I got the lobster ravioli which is typically a favorite of mine. It looked and tasted like low quality, canned, seafood salad. At any restaurant, you don't get a lot of ravioli, especially lobster ravioli but I managed to leave a lot left on my plate (and my date had some as well). The sauce was light and did not have much flavor. My date had the cod risotto. The cod was deep fried and I expected a little more from a restaurant like this. The risotto was average. Not a ton of flavor but no strong opinion otherwise. For dessert, we split the chocolate cake and it was absolutely delicious. It was served warm with some kind of whipped cream that tasted homemade. The reason this restaurant didn't make 3 stars is because my date and I both felt sick after dinner. It is now 3 days later and I am just starting to feel better. This could be a coincidence but left me with a bad association. The restaurant was nice inside, cozy but not too small.
(2)
Tom M.
Terrific family-run place, recently moved to the North End from Marblehead. I took my wife and three children there for a Mother's Day dinner. Having eaten at many pushy North End restaurants we all enjoyed wonderful, friendly, and attentive service on a busy holiday. We're not big drinkers, so we were grateful for the selection of carefully picked and high-quality wines by the glass. For apps we had a tasty Bruschetta and a very interesting eggplant relish with homemade bread, followed by a light crispy fried calamari and a decadent Eggplant Napoleon. For entrees I had a lightly crusted sole with a tangy lemon and pino grigio drizzle. My wife had a perfect veal marsala. Our children had homemade gnocchi with an amazing sauce, linguine with clams, and chicken risotto. Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable and wonderful evening put together by a family that obviously loves what they do and cares for each patron. Highly recommended, you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Robert D.
Kind of in the middle of the pack in terms of fanciness in the North End. There was ample space around the table - comfortable seating. Even as the restaurant got mostly full it wasn't too loud. Caprese was good. Bruschetta was hard as a rock. Had the special Shrimp and Lobster Fra Diavola. The shrimp and lobster were good but the sauce was a little bland. Nothing special. Plastic covered menus felt a little tacky. The big miss here, and I see this a lot in the North End, is red wine served at room temperature in an open air restaurant. Way too hot.
(3)
Roma C.
I would have given one star for the horrible service but the food was good so I gave it two. I have been here a few times and came back for the food and the amazing chocolate lava cake. I will never be coming back because the service was so horrible. I have never felt so unwanted at a restaurant before. I came back this time with a groupon and the waitress was completely rude when she told us about about the rules of the groupon. She also decided to add her own rules of dishes not being able to be used with the groupon and adding money for certain dishes because of the groupon even though they were not on the rules when i purchased it. I did not want to argue and told her that was fine but she decided to repeat the rules of the groupon every time she came to the table again throughout the meal which was completely unnecessary and just made me feel so awkward using the groupon. Besides the waitress clearly being upset about me using the groupon, the restaurant was completely empty when I went and she clearly wanted us out of there so she could go home. I came to the restaurant at 7 15 which is by no means late and left within an hour. I was completely shocked at her behavior especially because it was not my fault the restaurant was empty. When it came down to the bill I am by no means a cheap person but don't like when someone takes advantage of me. The waitress decided to add the tip and tax before deducting the money for the groupon and to only compensate certain things because of her weird rules. I thought this was very odd and she really just wanted to guarantee herself a good tip. I left without complaining because I really didn't want to argue with her after she was so rude about the groupon. Needless to say I will never be coming back again.
(2)
Elizabeth B.
Excellent food and very friendly staff! Highly recommend this restaurant in the North End.
(5)
Julia I.
I went out to have dinner at North End with friends and Pellino's was the only restaurant that didn't have wait lines. That usually tels me that place not worse going to, but we were very hungry and didn't wan't to wait. We ordered a bottle of chianti $35, angel hair and meatballs $20 (overcooked angel hair and five less then inch in diameter meatballs), veal marsala $27 (veal had no taste and penne had tomato souce not marsala over them) and pesto mussels $12 (were great!) and two more appetizers and entrees. They charge $4 for splitting a plate. We were charged $200. We won't come back.
(2)
Michael R.
Great food! The homemade pasta was amazing and the eggplant compote served with the bread was a homerun! Our waiter left a bit to be desired in the way of personality and overall service but the food made up for it.
(4)
Bob M.
Dinner tonight before the Celtics game. A friendly welcome then Maria put homemade Italian bread on the table accompanied by a red pepper and eggplant dipping sauce. I loved the sauce, but the bread was so good that my wife savored the taste without any topping. For appetizers we had calamari, lightly breaded and golden brown, and Eggplant Napolean, which was thinly sliced layers of eggplant baked with mozzarella and sliced pieces of Parmisiano in a light tomato sauce. It practically melts in your mouth and made a nice counterpoint to the crisp calamari with fresh lemon. We had pasta dishes for our main courses, Frutti di Mare for her and Lobster and Shrimp Fra Diavlo for me. The Frutti included plenty of shrimp, mussels and cherry stone clams in a light flavorful tomato sauce. My Fra Diavlo didn't reach quite the same high level. The shrimp were jumbo and tasty, but the lobster was tough and stringy. My bride said that anyone foolish enough to order lobster in March except in a seafood restaurant did not get to take points off if it wasn't perfect. We decided to forego dessert, but had superb Cappicinos. Our cups were filled with wonderfully flavorful coffee topped with an inch of thick froth sprinkled with cinnamon. Perfect! Having focused on the food, I must mention that the service was very friendly and professional. In addition, the decor and presentation are simple and comfortable. The only improvement I would suggest is slightly larger tables, but that's not likely in the North End. We'll be back..
(5)
Stephen R.
Earned every star and then some. Every dish was GREAT. The best dishes were INCREDIBLE. In fact, the lamb and the Porcini Mushroom Ravioli were perfect. I could write forever, but I wouldn't do it justice. Just go for yourself.
(5)
Caitlin E.
My boyfriend wanted to take me out for my birthday in the North End on Saturday...but of course, by the time we wandered out at 9 pm most places had lines out the door! So we veered off on Prince Street and luckily, came upon Pellino's! We were warmly welcomed by the owner/chef Frank Pellino, even though it was late at night near closing time. We spent the next hour or so marveling at every dish that came our way--even the eggplant olive oil dip that came with the bread was fantastic! The red sauce on the mussels appetizer was so good that my boyfriend was eating it with a spoon (I would usually not approve, but that sauce really was amazing). I had the sole and my boyfriend had the veal parmigiana and both were excellent. This is true homemade Italian cooking at its finest--the flavors were rich and complex and everything was cooked to perfection. My fish was delicious and my boyfriend loved the veal. Even the broccoli that came with my fish was outstanding--perfectly seasoned, and cooked to the exact tenderness that it should be (not too gummy but not too hard/undercooked)!! We both agreed this was one of the best meals we've ever had, so I felt like I had to write a review and give Pellino's the props it deserved. Since this location has only been open for a few weeks (moved from Marblehead, as other reviewers have said) it wasn't that crowded yet, but I'm sure once people catch on this place too will have a line out the door.
(5)
kathy l.
We were really impressed with the new atmosphere and the food was great. The stuffed veal with spinach was delicious. I had the salmon-it was poached which kept it very moist and flavorful. The bread and eggplant dip that was served in the beginning was really good.
(4)
Bill M.
Meh... it really does describe the food, but I'm bumping up to A-OK because the service was good. This is where we went for my birthday, and really it might just be the fact that I'm use to certain things and set in my ways as an old man, but the food was forgetable. I had the lobster ravioli that didn't taste like it had any lobster in it with white sauce. The sauce was okay, just wasn't memorable. My girlfriend had eggplant parm and enjoyed that part, but we both had issue with the marinara sauce I don't know, but it seems that more and more places I go to that are italian, the straight up marinara sauce tastes jarred Ragu, but without any type of spices. This isn't the only place that has done it, but really, McKayla Maroney is not Impressed.
(3)
Tom D.
Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. I came in last night for dinner and was very impressed with this new restaurant. I love lamb, so I ordered the full rack and it was cooked perfectly, had a wine sauce/glaze over it that was delicious. Also got the mushroom appetizer to start.. filo dough wrapped mushrooms/different cheeses and it was also really good, and not something I've seen on other North End restuarant menus. It's really refreshing to find a place that has some genuine culinary creativity. Service was also good, friendly waiter and nothing went wrong in that department. All around good restaurant.
(5)
David N.
This place is a hidden gem in the North End. Off the beaten path, it's value far exceeds its side street location. Stopped in after looking around for a lunch option. Checked out their lunch menu, saw their great prices, and made our decision to dine in. We were quickly greeted and seated by a friendly host. Our decision paid off, as our lunch was amazing. Service, wait time, food quality, food quantity; all were top notch.The fried calamari app was greatly proportioned, cooked and seasoned to perfection, and the complimentary bread and oil were a nice treat. The accompanying greens salad (calamari plate) was fantastic, and the applied dressing was delectable. Our entrees consisted of the Veal Parmigiana (with spaghetti), Ziti Alfredo, and Baked Ziti. Every dish shined in its own way. Everything was hot, seasoned and cooked properly, and priced extremely competitive. Not many places in North End can you get an app, three entrees, and a few beers for what they charge. Most dishes price around 10 bucks, and leave plenty to devour. Had we not been so full, I'm sure we would've partook in their many dessert options. First time to Boston and the North End... Smiles all the way around. Our return business next time out was definitely earned. Keep it up Pellino's!
(5)
Gray W.
Nice room. Attentive staff. Great appetizers. Linguini with little necks a bit salty otherwise yummy. Tagliatelle was good. Veal special would have been better not fried. Bread pudding and chocolate lava desserts were great! Order them early.
(3)
J R.
Bought Groupon for restaurant-- If restaurants hate Groupon users-- why sell their services on Groupon? We went during 3 pm for a late lunch which was still the lunch menu-- however, since we were Groupon users-- they gave us the dinner menu. That's fine--ok, fine, we were on the cusp. If you are charging us dinner prices-- I expected dinner portions-- instead we got lunch portions. Not fine but I will tolerate. If you are charging us dinner prices-- if I wanted to add some garlic and olive oil why is there an add on charge of $3?? Not acceptable. As for the food-- I've had better. The bill came up to $160+. We of course trip the waitress before the groupon price. However, she was giving us a attitude the whole time. In the end, tons of competition in the North End. This SHOULD NOT be your North End destination. Mafia shake down for sure.
(1)
Deanna B.
Absolutely LOVE this restaurant!!! I have been several times and it has never disappointed. It has become my top restaurant choice to bring out of town visitors and other locals alike. Everyone I have introduced this place to has been nothing but impressed, always asking to go back. The service has always been great, very attentive and personable, also great with recommendations. So not only is the service, location, and environment perfect, every meal I have had to this date has been fantastic! Every meal starts out with delicious bread and the best dip I can find, and whatever they do to their dressing makes it amazing . As for entrees, their Gnocchi Di Nonna is among my favorites, with the lobster ravioli not far behind. Definitely looking forward to many more delicious meals from here in the near future!
(5)
Fred L.
My wife and I have eaten at this restaurant three times, and each time has been terrific. We were looking for a place to host a small wedding party and had a couple of meals there to try different dishes on the menu. Everything was delicious. We particularly liked the chicken parmigiana and the gnocci amatriciani (with pancetta, carmelized onions and smoked mozzarella). Among the appetizers, the eggplant Napoleon and the fried calamari were favorites. The owner and chef, Frank Pellino, could not have been more helpful in planning our wedding lunch. They handled a party of forty with ease and good humor, and everyone had a lovely time. We highly recommend Pellino's for either a romantic dinner for two or for small functions. Good food and great service.
(5)
Joey B.
Lovely little restaurant. Friendly staff and delicious food. Had the classic bolognese and it was incredible. Wife has the lobster ravioli which she devoured.
(4)
Laurie P.
Day trip to the city before my in-laws flight back to Ireland. Yelp brought us here for lunch, thanks! I had gnocchi di nonna, hubby and FIL had bolognese penne and MIL had chicken parmigiana. Each of us were delighted! Service was attentive and friendly. Highly recommend.
(5)
John R.
Checking the menus in the North End where it is hard to find bad Italian food. Reading the menu at Pellinos and just about to walk away when the owner?/cook? came out and told us how good the food was, explaining that the pasta was homemade and how fresh alll the ingredients were. We decided to try it. Our first indication that there might be a problem was when the waitress asked us if we had a reservation in a restaurant that was empty at 4:45. We sat ordered a couple of glasses of wine. Wine by the glass was $10 which I thought was high especially when the glasses were brought to us about 1/4 full, maybe 3 oz of wine. We ordered a calamari appetizer, the sauce was bland. The waitress pretty much ignored us for about 1/2 hour never asking us if we needed refills for our drinks or if we wanted more water while we waited for a 3rd member of our party to arrive. She spent most of her time socializing with guests at another table. We placed our dinner order, ordered a bottle of wine and some soup. The soup came quickly and was very good as was the bread and dipping sauce. The main courses took forever while we were again ignored by the waitress who spent the entire time socializing with the other table. When the main dishes finally arrived about 40 minutes after ordering (there were very few people in the restaurant) the sauces were all much more bland than we would expect. The prices were high for what we got, the food was less than average and the service was terrible. This is one restaurant I will never visit again.
(1)
CC K.
I'd like to give this 3 1/2 stars but I'm rounding down to 3 since there wasn't any wow factor for our meal. My husband and I came in for a light dinner. Just ordered entrees- chicken with risotto and linguine vongole. The chicken was tender but lacking salt. The vongole had maybe 10 clams in a shell. Clams were chewy nothing great and the linguine was a little boring. Food was overall decent but not worth going back for
(3)
Zander B.
I thought the food was a 4 but the service was a 2. It's a WARM October night so the north end is packed. I understand its tough to get people all served but we were rushed out the door the second food was ordered. Appetizers and wine had to be ordered at once. I had the gnocchi and thought it was pretty good, my wife had the butternut squash ravioli which was excellent. If we could have relaxed and had better service I would have given it 4 stars. I would recommend it to a friend only if its not busy.
(3)
Timothy W.
Nice place. We were greeted and waited upon very nicely. The food was very good. Not fabulous but very good. The tagliatelle was great along with the linguini + littlenecks, however the veal special was mediocre. But the star of the meal was the desserts. Both the cranberry pudding and the chocolate lava cake were A+. Overall, tasty food, good for a nice and reasonably priced meal.
(4)
Tim S.
Visited Little Italy in Boston hoping too find something authentic......we found it. Food was delicious and was served with a smile. Don't find that combination very often so when I so I like to recognize the Restaurant.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street, Validated Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Alexa M.
LOVED IT! My boyfriend and I bought a great Bloomspot deal and went for dinner. Staff is amazing and very attentive (Shane and Maria to be exact). The food was awesome. They make their bread in house and it's delicious- they also ask you to order some of the desserts before your meal (like the chocolate lava cake) because they make it in house! Amazing! I am so in love. Nothing bad to say! 5 stars for sure!
(5)Ed K.
This is my new " go to" restaurant in the north end. The mushroom ravioli was magnifico! Ed from new joisey. I will be back
(5)lauren f.
We wandered in here while visiting the North End on a weekend in October. We didn't have a reservation, but were seated promptly. Everything was fantastic - the food was delicious, the service was very good. As an appetizer we shared an order of their eggplant and a caesar salad (the salad was a huge portion btw, definitely shareable!) Entrees were the veal saltinbocca (spelling..? not sure!) and one of their specials of the night which was a mushroom ravioli. We loved everything! Recommend it, and we would visit again next time in the N, End.
(5)Julie D.
Great atmosphere, wonderful people, and the chef made me exactly what I wanted even though it wasn't on the menu! Bravo!
(4)Evelyn S.
Saw a Groupon Now Deal for Pellino's and decided to give it a try. Frank Pellino (chef and owner) met us at the door and saw us to a table by the windows. Complementary bread and olive oil with tomatoes and garlic started the meal; both were delicious. The waitress was friendly and knowledgeable and recommended an excellent Italian wine. My husband had the linguine with mussels/shrimp/calamari (Fruitti de Mare) and I had the linguine with clam sauce (Vongole). Both were excellent. Mine was particularly good as the clams were very fresh and had no grit. We did decide to have the lava cake, which was probably the best dessert I've ever had in a restaurant. The ice cream on the side was light and fresh; more like a not-too-sweet whipped cream. If you do get the lava cake (which I highly recommend) count on the excellent cappuccino or espresso to cut the richness. Throughout the meal, the service was attentive without being intrusive. The ambiance is typical of what I love about the North End; romantic, quiet and very, very Italian. Marble counters, linen napkins and excellent cuisine. In talking to the waitress, this location has only been open for about three weeks. For now, it is not as crowded as the frenetic restaurants on Hanover street (one block over), but I can't believe that's going to last. Once people find out about this gem, I'll have to wait in line, but it will be worth it.
(5)Jonathan B.
Service was rushed. Was excited to try gnocchi based on reviews but was not impressed. Sauce was kind of smokey. Tried someone else's veal marsala which was delicious. Also tried the chicken with risotto which was also delicious. Usually I don't order chicken over other exotic entrees but I would have preferred it over my gnocchi.
(3)Maribeth T.
I have to say this was one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. We arrived at your restaurant at 6:10pm on Saturday evening and was seated promptly. We then ordered wine, appetizer, salad and dinner - we were served everything all at once and within 10 minutes of ordering. I felt like we were being "processed" through the system. Within 50 minutes we had completed our entire dinner and that included 2 glasses of wine each. After the waiter told us they "only have 2 desserts" he brought the bill, came back twice to see if we were ready to pay and we left at 7:00pm Talk about feeling rushed - this was unbelievable. If you are looking to spend some time enjoying fine Italian cuisine - I would NOT recommend this place. Disappointed in Boston
(1)C N.
Excellent food, excellent service and nice environment. This place is small but cosy, comfortable and well lit. We were seated immediately and were given attentive service. We had a waitress tending to us initially then the owner took over. From the bread to the entrees to the desert, everything is made to perfection. I chose the veal Pellino, my wife chose the lobster ravioli. The couple we ate with chose the steak and mushroom ravioli. Everything was prepared and service with class. The deserts were cranberry bread pudding and fallen chocolate cake...both were the Bomb!!! We were moaning sooo much people thought we were in pain while eating these deserts. Prices were very reasonable for the North End. HIGHLY Recommend.
(5)Marina T.
Food was yummy but a bit expensive. We got a table right away on a busy Friday and the food came out at a good pace. Dessert was great! Not as good as I expected based on the other reviews but still was an enjoyable dinner.
(4)Bianca T.
Horrific rude service ! I will never return ! We bought a groupon ... Nothing big just figured we would try the restaurant. We call for a reservation and the women over the phone can barely speak English and was not very friendly so we brush it off and just go hoping for the best... We arrive on Friday night at 8 pm and the place is empty .. Only one table of 4 ... The waitress comes over and we ask about the specials ... She is sarcastic, rude and can't be bothered ... So I bring up I brought the groupon and she immediately gets very close and starts demanding I show her the groupon ... I'm like calm down lady ... Can I just order and start the dining experience and we can work out the check later ... But no she gets closer and is now practically in my face an starts pointing on my iPhone where I pulled the groupon up and says "see not valid on Fridays" so I said really can you make an exception since we are already here and your empty ... She at this points at me and is irate and since I am sitting in the corner I get annoyed she has entered my personal bubble of space and asked her to please back up so we can leave .... I had a party of 7 with me ... And they didn't want to honor at $40 groupon .... Wow ... It's not the money ... Its their attitude and aggressive customer service I can't deal with ... I live a block away ... I will never return and will Never recommend this place ...
(1)Justin B.
Awesome! Yelp came through again!
(5)Jenny R.
I gave this restaurant 5 stars because it exceeded my standard "North End restaurant" expectations in food, service, and atmosphere. First - the food. Since I come from an Italian family and studied abroad in Italy, I can be very critical of Italian food. This place was the real deal though! While we were deciding what to order, our waiter brought us the most delicious spread to go with fresh bread - I forgot to ask what the spread was called but it tastes just a bit sweeter than bruschetta and was absolutely delicious. We then couldn't all decide on a bottle of wine, so our server brought over our top picks to sample before we picked just one (and the sampling was more than generous!). We also ordered the Eggplant Napoleon for an appetizer - again, we gobbled it up! I ordered the chicken risotto for my entree so I can only personally speak for that, but I can truthfully say that every plate at our table was clean by the end of our dinner. Also - I'd definitely recommend the chicken risotto - the risotto is made with roasted butternut squash - so it's savory and sweet at the same time and not overcooked. The chicken was very thin and had a sauce that perfectly complimented the butternut squash. Lastly - we ordered the warm Volcano lava cake for dessert as well as the Cranberry Bread pudding - more than enough for the 4 of us at the table and yet both were devoured. I promise you can't go wrong with one or the other - but I would probably just order both! You won't regret it! Our servers were absolutely attentive and generous - making sure we had everything we needed but also allowing us time to catch up with one another and take our time deciding what to order. The restaurant is also decorated to make you feel warm, invited, and give you that authentic Italian restaurant feel. We will all definitely be going back to this restaurant - and telling all our friends to go as well! Thank you Pellinos for an incredible dinner - you deserve this review!
(5)D'dra O.
Wonderful food, terrific service made for a fantastic evening! Yes, it is tiny, but the food and wine are worth it.
(4)F E.
The food was fine, but nothing to write home about. The pasta was fresh, but $20 for a vegetarian pasta dish that doesn't knock your socks off is too much. The one star rating though comes from the attitude of the staff- towards the end of our meal the restaurant power went off and an alarm starting sounding. Instead of being apologised to for the darkness and noise, we were told to pay and leave. Oh and that we better have cash since their card machine was also down. After paying our bill, one surly waitress came back to tell us our tip wasn't big enough and wasn't 20%. You know what, your service and food wasn't good enough. There are so many other places nearby, I won't be back. I wonder what all the other diners still in the restaurant thought of her criticism of our tip? Hope they left them less then we did.
(1)James L.
I ate the pan roared cod ($15) and had a glass of chianti. It was fabulous in absolute standards. Beautiful interior and tasteful decorum.
(3)Mark B.
Veal was perfect. Had seafood for lunch so was looking for a meal a little more 'grounded.'
(5)Christne Y.
Pellino's recently took over my previous favorite Italian restaurant in the North End so I decided to give it a try. The experience was excellent! It is a family run business and the Owner/Chef, Francesco, was out and about greeting customers and serving food while the mother and daughter were hostess and waitress that night. The place is recently remodeled and very clean. The food was delicious starting with the bread and dip to the calamari appetizer and the homemade lobster raviolis and ending with their cannoli! Overall, an extremely pleasant experience and will definitely go back!
(5)Michele C.
Our Favorite Restaurant!!! Delicious!!! We have never had anything that wasn't truly authentic italian super yummy food!!! Lasagna, meatballs, shrimp risotto, lobster raviolis....all magnificent!!! The sauce is amazing and flavorful. Oh and we can't forget to mention the eggplant carbonatte with the fresh bread!!! Also our server Dino is spectacular! Very polite, knowledgeable, and friendly!
(5)Larry S.
Gosh this was a great meal. Our server was outstanding, the food wonderful and the evening most pleasant sitting by the open window. Ok, sounds like a lot of reviews for restaurants on the North End, in fact, we would describe our favorite restaurant we usually go to - but they were closed for a Private Party - so we had to choose a new place! So walking around hanover, so we saw the places with the long lines, we say the busy places that we knew were expensive but just "ok'. So on a whim, we walked down this side street and checked out the menus of the three restaurants, four if you include the famous/expensive place at the end, and Pellino's just called out to me, Nice wood accents, tables set nice but not overdone, and a table in the window. We asked if we, just 2, could sit there. With an arm around the shoulder, "of course" was the answer. From the wonderful fresh bread, marinated egg plant for the bread ( which was "WOW!"), to the unbelievable scallops and a lasagna, that my wife cleaned her plate. I regret not having dessert - but we will be back! I loved the the espresso cup was hot and it was a decent portion. We will be back. I do business in Boston. I will take client there. Go!!
(5)Alexandria P.
I frequent Boston fairly often, and I've dreamed about the one other time I came here and had an amazing and delicious experience. I was so very glad to return and again thoroughly enjoy my food! The bread and some of the pasta is house made. We ordered the calamari and the bruschetta to start. The calamari was perfection. The right amount of crispy without being greasy, salted perfectly and the marinara sauce tasted house made. The bruschetta was a little oily but decent. I ordered the shrimp scampi with angel hair. The portion was fairly large. Flavor was very tasty, the shrimp were jumbo, and who doesn't love that?! Our waiter was friendly and courteous even though we plagued him with a million questions and asked him to take our photo (yes, we were THOSE people ;) hey what can I say, some occasions call for being a little over the top) Definitely give this place a try! You won't be disappointed!
(4)Sonia N.
Subletting in North End for the time being and jumped for joy when I found a Groupon for a place rated 4 stars on Yelp. My best friend and I strolled in on Friday night with an open mind and empty stomachs after a long work week. For starters, we shared the pesto mussels and the stuffed mushrooms. Both were quite delish and went well with our bottle of Simi Pinot Noir. Excited, we waited patiently for the Frutti di Mare and Pan Roasted Cod. Admittedly, it wasn't bad but really wasn't great either. It was missing that X factor you expect from North End food - way too mild but tasted better after adding some table salt and red pepper flakes to the dishes. Service was friendly and efficient. We didn't need to look around to ask for anything but at the same time, our server was never intrusive either. We ended our meals with the cranberry bread pudding and chocolate lava cake which were both prepared very well. We (or maybe just I) finished every last morsel. Highly recommended. Overall, this place is a solid 4 stars on the appetizers and dessert but sadly, the entrees just didn't quite meet our expectations. If I do visit again, I'd definitely go for another one of their entrees.
(3)Noelle B.
My mother and I went into Boston for the afternoon. Prior to driving in I looked up restaurants in the area. Being from Boston and spending my childhood at my nonni's I very rarely ate in the north end itself. We decided on this restaurant and we were very glad we did! Nestled on a cozy side street off of Hanover street, upon entering this restaurant you are transported to a little part of Italy in Boston. The service was great. They even accommodated and help carry in our baby stroller. Now onto the best part the food. I ordered the lobster ravioli and my mother had the chicken cacciatore. Both dishes were delicious and fresh. The lobster ravioli had tons of flavor. The bread that they bring out is hot and doughy, just the way I like it! We did not drink any alcoholic beverage but they had a decent wine list. Afterwards I had the tiramisu which was so moist and decadent, I was in heaven. All in all this is a great restaurant with great service and even better food. I am definitely going to go back and try their dinner menu.
(5)Joleen Q.
This is a charming place! There were definitely regulars here. The bread was hard for my liking. Best gnocchi you will have unless you are in Italy! I got it with meat sauce. Delicious!! I had my luggage and the staff was very accommodating.
(5)Greg L.
What a find if you are looking for a great Italian restaurant NOT on Hanover (the main drag of the North End)! Pellino's is located about halfway down Hanover on a side road called Prince St. We went on a Saturday night without a reservation and could not have been more pleased with the food and the service. We were greeted by a friendly lady who was going to sit us at a table for two when the window table opened up and she agreed to prepare it for us if we would just give her a few minutes. We then were lucky to have as our waiter, Sal. He was easy to talk to, provided excellent table service and made our evening that much more enjoyable. Sal brought bread to the table and this "eggplant tapenade jelly" that was unbelievably great! We had the little neck clams for an appetizer and they were served in a flavorful bowl of garlic and butter. Heaven! I had the pappardelle bolognaise which was incredible. I was planning to get the chicken marsala, but then when I saw that the pasta was made fresh daily I switched to the pappardelle and was so glad I did. I cannot remember when I had such a fantastic and flavorful dish. My friend had the homemade lasagna and although she rarely can finish a complete Italian dish, she savored this one (as I did mine) and enjoyed every bit of it. We were so happy we decided to take a detour off of Hanover and discovered this little gem. Give it a try!
(5)Ross G.
Just went for my birthday, the food was amazing and service was top notch. We ordered two appetizers, arancini and chicken parm spring rolls. Both were five star. I had pinot grigio with a side of cheese ravioli. The smoked mozzarella flavor was outstanding. My friend got the chicken risotto which looked delicious. The service was flawless, will definitely be back. Hopefully with more room next time for dessert. Location is also very good, if you want a break from the busy Hanover places. This is right around the corner, not a far walk.
(4)S C.
Ended up off Hanover during feast. I will be back. We have favorites in the North End in my family, but we each really loved our food here. The best sauce I can remember having. Truly.
(5)Alexis B.
Get the Groupon! Such a great deal- $60 for two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts. I never would have gone to this place without being lured in by a good deal. We went on the early side, we had a reservation and were seated right away. Appetizers - Pesto Mussels and Calamari Both were fresh and really really good. The pesto was homemade really was very yummy. Entrees- Rack of Lamb and Veal Siciliano The Rack of Lamb was an extra $15 and it was totally worth it. If you like lamb you MUST get this. It was tender and flavorful. The veal was basically veal marsala. I would have liked a bit more mushrooms but it was good too. It was hard to focus on anything but the lamb to be honest. Luckily my dining partner was generous and let me have some. Dessert- Chocolate Lava Cake and Cranberry Bread Pudding I don't really like dessert but both were delicious. The bread pudding was awesome. The waitstaff was friendly and helpful, and the food was good. I would definitely come again.
(4)Oliver D.
Super small space. Cozy. 20 mins order to entree. Nice veal! Risotto seemed under cooked. Not creamy. Light Rich tiramisu. What's with the coffee machine downstairs outside the bathroom???
(4)Michael L.
Our first time in Boston and we were excited to try a four star restaurant. We were surprisingly disappointed the food was just kind of regular and leaning towards the bland side. We had their spaghetti and meatball, chicken marsala, and penne w/meat sauce.
(2)Kate S.
I lived in the North End for several years and really wanted to try this place as the decor is really nice and there seemed to always be a line...my parents and I tried it and it really wasn't good :( The sauce tasted really earthy and not fresh - and the homemade papardelle stuck together in one big pile. Cheese on top of the chicken parm wasn't melted and the chicken tasted frozen. We were really disappointed. I hate having to write a review like this, but I guess it can only help the restaurant after all.
(2)Chaz H.
My girlfriend ordered their fresh pasta with chicken in vodka sauce and ended up getting sick and spending a half hour in their cramped single bathroom. Would not recommend. I don't write reviews in yelp, but the public need be warned. I spoke to management and they blamed the sickness on her and did not do anything else. Update: We are home and she is still not doing well.
(1)Steve W.
Everything as I expected and great service. Very efficient staff and nice environment.
(5)Joey E.
Great place to eat in North End Boston. Had their clams appetizer - delicate and tasty. Ordered one of their daily specials - veal amalfi and their seafood pasta. Nothing was overpowering in taste and everything was cooked perfectly. Would love to go back!
(4)Vivian C.
Another voucher, another visit. And on this visit I noticed how noisy the room was, and how closely set the tables were. Their tables for two are ideally sized for unshared dishes, however we made do with the surface area afforded by the table, and stretched out onto the ledge located behind me below the cubby-holes filled with wine bottles. Their bread was so soft and yummy (and baked in the restaurant!), especially when I topped mine with some of the sweet and tasty eggplant caponata and a sprinkle of Parmesan. For appetizers I had originally considered the Eggplant Napoleon $12, however the portion run over to the ladies at a neighboring table was quite dainty. The Fried Calamari $13 seemed more rightly portioned for the price. And it was tasty. The hoops of squid (sadly no tenacles in sight) were fried only to a light crisp, retained long enough as the warm marinara was wisely served on the side. The sweetly dressed greens served alongside made the dish seem a tad more healthy and bountiful. To my dismay, the leftover appetizer was stowed for us in a styrofoam clamshell doused with the red stuff, hinting at the sodden mess it will be at its next showing. Yes, I did want the marinara, but I was hoping it would be encased separately from the calamari. I considered the veal amalfi entree special (quoted at $30), but selected instead the Veal Saltinbocca $23 (tender medallions; topped with sage, prosciutto, spinach & Mozzarella with a side of penne pasta) and the Salmon Agrodolce $23 (caramelized onions, red roasted pepper -sweet/wild sauce, fine herbs with a side of penne pasta) to be shared between the two of us. With penne served alongside both options, for a bit of variety, I inquired as to whether we could swap out one for a side of the seafood infused spinach risotto I had noticed in the pan roasted cod listed on the menu. I was told I could add the risotto as a side for $4, but I could not swap the two. Oddly enough, however, when the two plates of protein arrived, the only carb to come with was the small bowl of risotto. I had to ask for the missing penne, and not once, but twice, as each time I asked, only one portion was served. The salmon arrived a thicker portion than at most other establishments, and was covered with a tasty sauce, however the fish itself was a bit overcooked. The veal was tender. The penne on the wrong side of al dente. The risotto creamy but light on flavor. But the tiramisu $8 did much to redeem the lackluster second course. It had a slightly bitter, though not unpleasant flavor that caught my attention. Though perhaps not the best I have ever had, it was still quite good. The ricotta pie $11 (courtesy of The Cake Boss - this week's special) was good as well, but I preferred the tiramisu. I also didn't appreciate that I wasn't told the price when I had inquired about it, so I was surprised to see it listed at $11 when the bill came. Service was a bit mixed. My water was refilled, however I had to inquire about each special that I had noticed on the board displayed outside, as neither was offered to me as an option by our server. By the time I got home, the inside of my plastic doggie bag was painted with leftover sauce that had leaked out of the styrofoam clamshells - perhaps Brookline's recent decision to nix the stuff isn't all that bad an idea... PS - I spied a second portion of the eggplant napolean make its way to another table, to a male diner, and it was 3x taller and just as wide as the lady's portion I had noticed earlier. I guess their portions aren't very consistent. Validation for Parcel 7 parking available here.
(3)Ali M.
If I could eat here every day I would. I had a groupon which included 2 apps, 2 entrees and 2 desserts. We started out with a bottle of chianti, mussels and arancini. We were so excited for our entrees because of how amazing the appetizers were. For dinner, I ordered the lobster ravioli and my friend ordered veal parm. We figured we would both order something we wouldn't normally, and share. Everything was far past amazing. The veal was so tender and the ravioli were stuffed with lobster. For dessert, we ordered the bread pudding which is my favorite dessert and tiramisu. The bread pudding is freshly made so it comes out hot and both were to die for. I will definitely be going back, with or without that groupon.
(5)ILya G.
Main entree was ok, not imprased how ever dessert was great. Staff was friendly, they could make suggestions about food. Only reason i give them five stars is that i could enjoy the food by myself there was not a soul in the restorant.
(5)Ben H.
It was a nice place with friendly service. I was impressed with their baked cod over risotto. The Bolognese was cold yet the sauce was light and tasty. The bread was fresh and we were happy to receive a 2nd basket.
(4)Don W.
Wow! What a treasure! We are visiting Boston...we got some advice to eat on Hanover Street if we wanted Italian food so we accidentally stumbled in for a bite. Wow wow wow. Totally awesome service...handmade pasta and gnocchi...Yum Yum Yum.... Ok here's the lowdown. .. Price: it's Boston but still very reasonable (for Boston) Lunch with appetizer, two entres, and a glass of red wine under $50. Service: Shane was excellent, knowledgeable attentive and fun. Delightful service. Atmosphere: bring your fiance or family or boss. Anyone would be at home here. Finally. ...food..: scrumptious, generous, hot, tasty, basically heavenly! I live in Austin but I'd drive here for a meal. Definitely on my "Gotta eat here next time I'm in town" list. I loved it....
(5)Anasuya M.
We bought a Groupon for the place for dinner. The restaurant seems very short staffed - only three servers for about 50 people dining at a time. Our server, though pretty apologetic for how crazy it was even forgot to give us cutlery when the appetizers had arrived. The bruschetta arrived cold - it honestly seemed with stale bread with salsa on top. No warm, authentic Italian-ness. The Arancini was decent, which was the saving grace of the entire meal. The Sangria was unimpressive. For entrees we ordered the gnocchi and the veal amalfi. The mushrooms in the amalfi were not washed properly - I could taste sand in my mouth. Overall, it definitely wasn't worth the Groupon and I don't recommend this place at all.
(1)Margaret C.
We bought out Pellino's Ristorante for an evening in the middle of last winter. We had at that time, perhaps 90" of snow on the ground. It was misery! But Frank Pellino and his staff made us LOVE the snow! Ok. A bit of a stretch... But we stepped into Pellino's where the atmosphere was quaint, warm, welcoming and so incredibly aeromatic. My coworkers, their families/SO's and I dined on Eggplant Napoleon - thin layers of eggplant with fresh tomato sauce & mozzarella.. Penne al Pomodoro.. Salmon Margherita in fresh lemon and pino grigio wine sauce with sweet red, roasted peppers & capers, Veal Saltinbocca - it was incredible.. It consisted of veal medallions topped with prosciutto, sage, spinach and mozzarella in a veal wine demiglaze. And some also enjoyed Chicken Marsala.. Chicken breast with wild mushrooms, caramelized onions in Marsala wine sauce.. We ended things with Limoncello and/or Tiramisu. It was a wonderful evening! Pricing was so reasonable, we hired 128 Coach to transport those apprehensive about driving into the city with so much snow on the roads.
(4)Kim H.
Loved this little place! Had a great groupon (always makes ya nervous!) that said, Dino waited on us and ensured we had a great evening, great meal and portions for 4!!! (Not 2!!) we're picky and we'd come again!
(5)Alyssa S.
3.5 stars As a Boston native, I was a little embarrassed that I've never been to the North End. Over the summer, my boyfriend and I finally made a trip and landed at Pellino's. There are so many restaurants to choose from, but I'm happy we tried this place! The servers were efficient, and our meal was very good. A small restaurant, there were three other parties there, which filled up more than half the dining room. I'm not sure if I'll return, but more so because there are so many other options in the North End...
(4)George M.
The food was pretty good but it doesn't justify the price. The portions were very small. Three tiny meatballs for $12.00 and for a glass of house wine for $10.50 for a small pour, 4 ounces at best. We will never go back.
(2)John H.
An unprepossessing Italian restaurant whose fresh pasta and friendly service make it a local standout. Our server, Dino, was knowledgeable about the wine list, made excellent suggestions and was attentive throughout the evening. Our pasta dishes were outstanding and generous enough to defy anyone from finishing their entire plate.
(5)Stella S.
It's very easy to fall into tourist traps in the northend and leave hungry and unhappy. In order to avoid that, I suggest you dine at Pellino's! They have the best homemade gnocchi in town, and the staff is very accommodating. For dessert, we shared the chocolate cake, which was out of this world!! Seriously, order this! You won't be disappointed and you will leave happy and satisfied! :)
(5)Xiao L.
The best part of this restaurant is always having seats when the other popular ones have a mile-long line. Lobster ravioli is ok. However, it looks more like a $$$ one - even the starter is quite pricy. The two of us ended up paying $85 for 1 starter and 2 entrees + tax and tips.
(4)Krisztina C.
Delicious! Walked right in after being told by a restaurant down the street said "it'll be 20 min"...turned into 40+! At Pellino's, still serving lunch, prices reasonable, portions great, would just say the bottled sangria was a little over priced, but man that was some good marinara! Service was wonderful, friendly and attentive. Definitely coming back! Oh and we had the angel hair and meatballs and eggplant parmigiana....yum!
(4)Francesca L.
I have no idea how the food is because they refused to seat us. We walked in at about 6 on a Saturday evening and the restaurant was about half full. When the waitress saw us, she asked if we needed a table for two. I said it was two adults and a baby. At that point, she suddenly changed her tune and said they had nothing available and were completely booked starting at 6. If they refuse to seat children, they should just be forthcoming and say so. As we left, another group was leaving who said the food was disappointing and we weren't missing anything. We found another restaurant in the area (Al Dente) that was more acommadating and had a great dinner there instead.
(1)Samantha L.
It's hard to find a restaurant with table availability on a Saturday night without a reservation. My family and I picked this restaurant because it had the shortest wait (30 minutes). My mom ordered Pan Roasted Cod, which was served on a bed of spinach risotto and laced with basil oil. The fish was cooked to perfection. My dad ordered Chicken Risotto, which was described as boneless breast deglazed in a marsala wine served with roasted spinach risotto. The chicken was delicious. The risotto was under-cooked and hard to digest. It gave us all heartburn. My brother ordered the 'Veal Amalfi' special, which was tender, slices of veal wrapped/stuffed with spinach, mushroom, peppers, and cheese. It was quiet the ambrosial experience - rich in flavor. I ordered the Gnocchi Amatriciana, which was described as potato dumplings served with crisp pancetta, caramelized onions, tomato, and smoked mozzarella. The gnocchi were hard - stale or over-floured. However, the tomato sauce was full of aroma.
(3)Angela C.
Even among the many great Italian restaurants in the North End, this is a hidden gem. Al dente pasta, superb service, and a chocolate lava cake to die for. Make sure to order that in advance because it takes 40 min to prepare!
(5)Tracy A.
We were told that Italian food in the North End was a must for any Boston visit, and we were looking forward to this meal! We were told to try one "off the beaten path", and Pellino's looked pleasant and inviting. The interior was nice, and we enjoyed sitting with windows open to the street. Service was very friendly. Aside from that, the meal was a big disappointment. No homemade sangria, it was from a bottle (red guitar). It was mediocre and overpriced ($38). The meals were all very low flavor, could have been Ragu from a jar, as far as I could tell. No lovely flavors of garlic or basil or fresh tomato. We had the lobster bisque (thin and underflavored; salt and pepper made it edible), Linguine Frutti de Mare (meh), and one of the specials (lamb osso bucco, I think, it was my husband's), which was "ok". Deeply disappointing, given the hopes we had, and very expensive for what we got (bill was $140 with a single bottle of sangria, two meals and two kids' meals). Tipping the requisite $30 was just painful. Oh well.
(2)Sheila G.
Had a late lunch, 6 adults, 1 toddler and a baby. They accommodated us well. Bread: warm, soft on the inside, nice crust on the outside. 2 appetizers: meatballs (3) and bruschetta. Entrees: chicken Marsala, chicken parm, eggplant parm, lobster ravioli, angel hair and meatballs. Everyone said their meal was an 8. The marinara was yummy. Homemade everyday. Wait staff were friendly and attentive. We would recommend.
(4)Joe S.
Convenient location, nice space that's stereotypical of the area. Bruschetta was good but the Caprese had unripened tomatoes and tough mozzarella. Meatballs were ok -- dense and not too tasty with a watery sauce. Main course was a tough chicken and OK'ish pasta. So-so service... not bad just nothing special. Bottom line is that the place is not terrible but there are many more better options.
(3)B L.
What a great restaurant! We asked if they had a cream sauces available and they replied that they were not on the menu, but preparation was no problem. We had cheese raviolis (with meatballs) and pasta with cream sauce (Alfredo); they were both excellent! We finished it off with a lava cake desert, which was amazing! A really nice find in North End!
(5)Thomas R.
For a comfortable and easily available place in the North End, I give this four stars for its price/value ratio. The potion sizes where good, the taste was very pleasant. Nothing spectacular about this restaurant so if you're looking to have a very special meal like an anniversary, don't go here. But if you're looking for a night out with solid Italian fare in the North End without breaking the bank, this place will do the trick. Note to owner: Please get rid of the TV. It is very distracting and takes away from the (otherwise fine) decor and ambiance of your establishment.
(4)Sarah B.
Waiter was rude and refused to split the bill between 3 credit cards. Bad service overall. Wouldn't recommend
(1)Kathryn K.
Went with my girlfriends for lunch. The atmosphere was intimate and relaxed. The food was excellent. We ordered chicken penne pesto, chicken piccata, and veal saltibaccino. (Sp?) We loved it!
(5)Yuriy G.
Really nice and approachable North End dining. Went here with a LivingSocial voucher and it was a surprisingly delicious meal. We had the Eggplant Napoleon appetizer (delicious!) and the Calamari (also, very nicely fried - not too overdone or rubbery or anything, just right!). We shared an entree and tried to stick to the homemade pastas as options. We chose the Wild Mushroom pasta dish, which was a great choice. They did split our portion even though we did not ask for this (and charged $4 for this unrequested 'favor', which was quite annoying). The bread that comes out while you wait is heavenly. Overall, they have some really nice freshly made items which are worth focusing on. Could use some refinement and it's not exactly a 'fancy' joint but definitely delicious fare and great potential!
(4)Tara L.
It was OK. I live in Boston and have been to a lot of the places in North end. It's not the best, but wasn't the worst. The service was great. I'll give them that. The waiter was very friendly and attentive. Also they take open table reservations which is nice and convenient. The dip that come with the bread is very good. a nice unique touch. We had the eggplant Napoleon appetizer which was ok, the gnocchi, and the pappardelle bolognese. We were really excited to try the gnocchi after other good reviews, but the smoky mozzarella sauce was a little overpowering. We both preferred the bolognese sauce. The pasta itself in both dishes was well made- fresh and very light .
(3)Blake S.
Stopped in for lunch walking by, awesome food, great service, perfect atmosphere. Very Italian! I really enjoyed it! A little pricey, mainly because of the drinks, but worth a visit.
(4)T. P.
Our first impression was that this place was way too small. The waitress showed us our table and I declined because I would have had to ask the people at the tables around me to all push in their chairs just to get to our tiny table, which was against a wall on one side, and touching another table on the other. I do not like to sit on top of people ever. Especially while I eat. I kindly declined the table and she showed me to another, which had an aisle on one side and another table on the other, so although we were very close to the people next to us, we at least had room on the aisle side. The waiter came and brought us water and we were not sitting for more than 3 minutes when the hostess offered us another table. This time it was an aisle table with an empty one next to us.. PERFECT! Lots of space now and A+ for the customer service! Our waiter, I think his name was Shane, was awesome! He was friendly and funny and by the end of the night we were telling stories and shaking hands. The bruschetta was less than average, nothing special. The bread wasn't even warm. I would not order this again. I have had much better at many other places. The green salad however, had a delicious honey balsamic dressing on it. I want to make it at home! I ordered the gnocchi, which was cooked perfectly, I just felt like the smoked mozzarella was a little overpowering. My boyfriend had the lasagna. Which he enjoyed and I also tried it and thought it was good also. For dessert we shared the volcano cake, which I thought was good but just was too full to finish. Overall 4 stars only because the restaurant being so small (but great at accommodating) and the food could be enhanced a little bit. But I do think that we will be back in the future. Customer service always wins in my book. Even if the food isn't as 100% as the service.
(4)Joelle K.
My husband an I enjoyed our anniversary dinner here. The restaurant is nice and intimate. The servers were very attentive to us throughout our visit. We shared a bottle of wine and started with the caesar salad and some bread. We then moved on to lobster ravioli and lasagna for our entrees. Both were delicious! The nice thing about this restaurant is that it is a bit removed from Hanover street, so you can enjoy a great meal without the hassle of an extended wait time.
(4)Polly E.
Great place off the beaten path. Order the lobster ravioli, chicken pesto penne and veal saltimboca. Very good dishes
(4)Joseph F.
Second best restaurant in Boston (well north end but whatever). I went to watch the Brazil-Germany world cup game and even though the game sucked, the dining experience did not. The waiters were so friendly and talked endless hours of soccer with us, which was really cool. And the food of course was phenomenal. The lasagna or the meatballs are the best things on the menu personally. Although it is a smaller restaurant size, it's still nice and comfortable. Definitely go to this place if you're visiting north end!
(5)Melissa K.
I went on a weekend for dinner with the girls. The restaurant was small and cute. Our food was amazing and the pasta was homemade. Our food came out really fast.
(4)Janet S.
My husband and I were visiting from Maryland, we were new to the north end and didn't know where to eat other than we didn't want a noisy, crowded restaurant. The waiter invited us in. How nice is that? I had the grilled asparagus appetizer, it was perfect, and the 3 cheese ravioli which was smokey and tangy and warm. We had a good bottle of wine that complimented the food. We shared a tiramisu and were glad we skipped the dessert in a box on main street idea. Excellent food, nice quiet dining room for talking, and inviting attentive service. Woohoo, as good as it gets in my book!
(5)Scott S.
A very good, solid Italian spot. It is small and had no host, but the waiter, though busy, did a great job. I had the three cheese ravioli, it was delicious. My wife loved her meal as well. They ran out if tea??? Seemed odd... So we were stuck with water. That was kind of a bummer but all in all, we were happy. I would go back happily.
(4)Karen R.
First time at this restaurant and will definitely return. My son and I were looking to try a new restaurant and we were not disappointed when we stumbled upon Pellino's. We were invited in by the manager and seated right away (what a treat ..no wait!). The arancini was delightful. Crispy on outside warm and cheesy inside. The bread was warm and fresh, I had the homemade gnocchi with a yummy sauce made with pancetta. My son had chicken parm. He said part of it was a bit overcooked, but the rest was the best he ever had. Service was fast and friendly. A great hidden gem!!!
(4)Tzook R.
Perfection in every bite! Seriously!
(5)Owen C.
Small restaurant off the beaten path. Personally I think those are the best ones, not the main stream stops. A deal voucher took my wife and I there, and we continue to go back for the food, wine and service.
(5)Jeff K.
Life's short, eat dessert first! I'll tell you first thing I'm getting next time I sit down at Pellino's, and I will be sitting down again at Pellino's, are the biscotti's. Amazing way to finish the meal so it's gotta be perfect to start the meal. I was there this past Tuesday night, had reservations and a great seat up front with another couple. The hostess, waitress and even my friends were all nice. We all started with salads (not the hostess and waitress, just my friends. We had the caprese (loved it with homemade mozzarella), mesclun greens salads and all were great. Eggplant special was excellent and so was the Chicken Risotto dish and the Chicken Bianco. Wine rounded the night out and all was perfect! Chef / Owner came out and thanked us for coming and I'll tell you... Such a nice dinner spot, a welcome addition to the North End considering the crappy restaurant before Pellino's refurbished the whole inside making it cleaner, better and inviting. We'll be back!
(5)Shelly C.
Fantastic little place with a great location and atmosphere! We had the Lobster Ravioli and Homemade Lasagna....both delicious! Lobster Ravioli had chunks of lobster and a delicious creamy sauce. My husband loved the Lasagna! Service was great!
(4)Jeremy W.
Came here with a livingsocial deal. Waiting staff was great! The food was pretty solid too. I got the Chicken Risotto and it was good, but not that memorable in my opinion. I would definitely give this place another chance, maybe the livingsocial deal dulled my experience. I'll have to try something else as well to make a better judgement. But Overall, definitely a solid place in the North End
(3)Sunny M.
This restaurant was a great find off the freedom trail around the corner from the Revere house! The food was fresh and delicious! I had the meatball sandwich and the meatballs were moist and tasty, my mom and the gnocchi and she loved it, I did too when she offered to let me try. They also serve warm bread with your meal that Was wonderful!
(4)S T.
I tend to stay clear of the main streets in the North End. Being on the main street doesn't always mean it's good. This place was off the beaten path and down a cute, cobblestone side way. I think it's around the corner of Mama Maria's and Paul Revere's house. We came in at around 4:00-ish on a bustling July 4th holiday. It was sweltering hot in Boston and we didn't want to walk any further. Most places were closed but luckily this cute little place was opened. They gave us a choice of three menus... the specials, the lunch, and dinner. Since we were border lining dinner time the place gave options for the guest. We had the Angel Hair Meatball, Shrimp Risotto, and Lobster ravioli. They were all delicious. I wasn't a fan of my sister's Angel Hair Meatball but the sauce was great. My shrimp risotto is yummy, there were 5 jumbo shrimps. My sister says it tasted a little raw but I liked a little bit of bite. The desert had to be ordered ahead of time. I'll definitely come again if ever I'm in the neighborhood.
(4)Sami M.
Found Pellino's on Groupon and my mom and I decided to give it a shot as she was up visiting me. I have been to many other places on Hanover, but never Pellino's - very happy we gave it a shot! I am not a huge wine drinker, but the waitress gave me a few options and told me that I could try any of the house options. Appetizer-wise, we started off with the mussels and chicken parm springrolls and both were delicious. The dinner portions were huge - lobster ravioli for me and the special lasagna for mom. We tried both of the cooked to order desserts available (molten cake and bread pudding) and were happy we saved room for dessert. The service was phenomenal - the owner served us all night and was knowledgable and just the right amount of friendly. Definitely planning a trip back here!
(5)Brenda M.
I was not impressed with the meal at the restaurant. The prices are way out of line, considering the quality of the food. An app of small roasted clams were overpowered by an abundance of garlic, which totally obscured the flavor of the clams. The restaurant's bread is homemade and delicious. An entrée of lobster ravioli was another disappointment. The lobster ravioli, filled with finely minced lobster, had no real lobster flavor. A small serving of tiramisu was another disappointment, lacking the richness and depth of flavor in other examples of this dessert I have tried.
(2)leah r.
Fantastic Italian restaurant in the North End! Service was very friendly and the food delicious. I had the lobster special and it was delicious. The bread was house made, served warm and accompanied by a wonderful eggplant/tomato dip. House made butternut ravioli were great.
(5)Brent W.
I was told that, if I had time to do just one thing in Boston, then I had to had to had to get Italian food at the North End. I would probably not give this advice to anyone else, based on my experience at Pellino's. The service was great, server was very attentive, funny, and honest with recommendations. That was probably because of the fact there were only 2 other parties in this small restaurant off the main street of Little Italy, which was classy enough but didn't seem to draw too much interest. Usually location doesn't matter if reputation precedes it (I'm thinking of all these places with awful parking in dark corners of LA that have lines out the door). Food was okay. I must not "get" Italian food, because I don't understand why, for $25, I got 3 small pieces of pretty boring chicken in a cream sauce with capers, and a side of half-heartedly thrown together pasta in a small bowl. This was completely unsurprising, because I've had similar experiences from other Italian restaurants. Not that I don't like "Italian". Honestly I prefer the Alfredo and Scampi from Coco's to any Italian I've paid $20-30 for. If that's the equivalent of saying I prefer Panda Express to Chinese food in SF or Monterey Park in LA, then so be it. But compared to other places of other cuisines I've had in this price range, Pellino's was disappointing. Shoulda just got another bowl of chowda.
(2)Bob S.
Hanover Street was packed Saturday night (as usual) and our regular go-to restaurants had huge waits. So wandered into Pellino's. It was really good. My wife had the Cod and Risotto (which was perfect, creamy and delicious) and I had the 3-Cheese Ravioli and Meatballs. I've eaten a lot of meatballs and these were outstanding, the ravioli as fresh and good as it gets (we are not tourists and know good Italian cooking). Pellino's is going into the rotation. Well done!
(4)Dave C.
My friend and I randomly stumbled upon this place and we walked around the North End. She got the Chicken and I got the gnocchi. Half way through the meal we switch dishes so we could try both of them. After we were finished the vote was that the gnocchi was a five star dish and the chicken was a three star.....so you know what I recommend if you go here! This is some great Italian food.
(4)Hoa N.
very disappointed with the food and the service We came here after having a good time at Blink. We arrived at the restaurant around 6:30 and the waitress quickly seated us, a group of 5. The restaurant is small, lively, and quite charming. But the service was not as great as the interior-look. The lady asked us what we wanted and was a bit annoyed when we needed a bit of time to decide. After we had decided what we wanted, she took our orders and as quick as two minutes, the food came out. I mean... it was very quick. We didn't have time to move into the last part of our first conversation, we had to eat because the food was here. The bruschetta was so sad. The bread was cold and it was like.. just a bunch of tomatoes were put on top of the the bread. It was tasteless. Compared to Panza's bruschetta, this was so just extremely disappointing. I had the porcini ravioli and the ravioli was just undercooked. The food wasn't warm enough. The waitress was not as attentive. At one point, i think she ignored us. Even though we were still eating, I felt that they wanted to clear the table and rush us out as soon as they can so the next group of people could come in and this happened when we were there for just 30 mins! All and all, we completed our meals (5 of us) in just under 45 minutes and left the restaurant unimpressed with the way the food was cooked and how we were treated. With the amount of money that we had to pay for each dish, I would rather eat elsewhere. I would not come back to this restaurant.
(2)Christina W.
I went here with my boyfriend and friend during a weekend trip to Boston, mostly because of the reviews on Yelp. I'm so happy that I listened! My gnocchi was scrumptious...so good that I took home what I couldn't finish and ate it at the hotel the next morning. The others' meals were awesome too...a bolognese dish and a pesto dish. Even better was the quick service. Seriously, we arrived an hour before our reservation because it was pouring rain and we couldn't be outside anymore, and we were seated with no problem. Small place, but very airy and open. We immediately got water, bread, and our orders in, and food was out in no time. They refilled our waters just enough, checked on us just enough without hanging on top of our heads, and really ensured that we were comfortable throughout our stay. We were too full for dessert so I unfortunately can't comment on that. There was just enough food; perfect portions. We went around the corner to Mike's Pastry for cannolis to go afterward. Kind of a must if you're staying in Boston, I guess!
(5)Tim N.
Both quality of service and food are important to me when I dine out, so I was pleasantly surprised that both were on par with fine dining restaurants around the nation. Anthony, our (young) waiter, was very attentive, professional and couldn't be stumped by my dinner companion; my surly father (who has Asperger's and can be a pain in the ass). Without going into too much detail, his meal, which was not prepared the way he ordered, (grated Paramesan came lightly sprinkled on his dish, even though he had ordered it 'without cheese'), was sent back and a new plate, with a different type of pasta - spaghetti, instead of tagliatelle (because he didn't like how thick the noodles were), came out before I could even take four bites of my meal. Anthony, ever accommodating, even offered to take half off the price of my father's meal because of the mix-up, but we insisted that was not necessary. The food at the restaurant is definitely homestyle, not in the vein of ridiculously large portions that you'd find at a chain, but in the sense that it could have been cooked by your grandmother. It is that good. Those who frequented Giovanni's, which inhabited the space prior to Pellino's, won't be disappointed. In fact, the place has had a make-over. However, it is still small, with less than 20 tables. It's not a place you go to 'relax', but hardly any restaurant in the North End has the amount space which allows one such a luxury during dinner. The mayor of Somerville was there with his wife the night I was, at the table across, along with their kids. It certainly seemed as if his wife had enjoyed her meal and bottle(s) of wine.
(4)Corey J.
Amazing! Food was fresh and staff was great! Definitely coming back here!!! All you heard was Ohhh and Ahhh's because the foo was so good.
(5)Karen H.
So I've been to Pellino's twice. The first time was with a groupon and it was AMAZING. I loved everything about it. Service was at times slow but everyone is very friendly there. We ordered the Calamari in Padella as an app - it was only ok. I think the fried Calamari would have been a better choice. I then ordered the lobster ravioli and my boyfriend got the Linguini Frutti Di Mare and both dishes were superb. The reason why I'm giving 3 stars rather than the 5 is because the second time, I went back with high expectations and found it much less enjoyable. I brought my boyfriend and his family and we each ordered something different and they were all medicore - . The Chicken Risotto wasn't very moist and tender but rather tough and the Linguini Vongole lacked flavor. However, our appetizer, the Mussels, were delicious. All in all, I didn't use a groupon this time and payed the full amount and really didn't think it was worth the money spent. I might go back a 3rd time but I'm not sure...
(3)Nathan B.
Excellent food and service. Don't let that it's off the beaten path scare you. The mushroom ravioli was fantastic. Terrific wine prices as well.
(4)Shaun S.
Without a reservation, my wife and I headed to the North End on our last night in town. After spying some long lines elsewhere, I noticed a 2-top table here and we were seated quickly. Sitting next to us was another couple who had been a long-time patron of Pellino's and we got the whole run down of the area, the history of the restaurant and more. What a great ad to our experience while in Boston. We started with the Bruschetta of which my wife has a small addiction, only second to her guacamole addiction. We were blown away, it wasn't a huge portion, which in ways is actually kinda nice. But the flavor was huge, garlic and fresh tomatoes exploded on your tongue! Quickly our food came and the talk stopped and the chewing began. I had the very nice Gnocci w/ al Amatricana sauce and we both couldn't stop singing the praises about the freshness of the food. We like a few nice places here in Chicago, but this takes the cake (or cannoli!)
(5)L B.
I came to this restaurant with a groupon and a recommendation from a friend. The service was great. The restaurant was empty and it was a Friday night but the restaurants off of the Main Street don't always get as much traffic. The waitress was very attentive and friendly. They serve bread with an eggplant spread which was delicious. For an appetizer, we had eggplant and muscles and both were great. The entrees were where it went downhill for us. I got the lobster ravioli which is typically a favorite of mine. It looked and tasted like low quality, canned, seafood salad. At any restaurant, you don't get a lot of ravioli, especially lobster ravioli but I managed to leave a lot left on my plate (and my date had some as well). The sauce was light and did not have much flavor. My date had the cod risotto. The cod was deep fried and I expected a little more from a restaurant like this. The risotto was average. Not a ton of flavor but no strong opinion otherwise. For dessert, we split the chocolate cake and it was absolutely delicious. It was served warm with some kind of whipped cream that tasted homemade. The reason this restaurant didn't make 3 stars is because my date and I both felt sick after dinner. It is now 3 days later and I am just starting to feel better. This could be a coincidence but left me with a bad association. The restaurant was nice inside, cozy but not too small.
(2)Tom M.
Terrific family-run place, recently moved to the North End from Marblehead. I took my wife and three children there for a Mother's Day dinner. Having eaten at many pushy North End restaurants we all enjoyed wonderful, friendly, and attentive service on a busy holiday. We're not big drinkers, so we were grateful for the selection of carefully picked and high-quality wines by the glass. For apps we had a tasty Bruschetta and a very interesting eggplant relish with homemade bread, followed by a light crispy fried calamari and a decadent Eggplant Napoleon. For entrees I had a lightly crusted sole with a tangy lemon and pino grigio drizzle. My wife had a perfect veal marsala. Our children had homemade gnocchi with an amazing sauce, linguine with clams, and chicken risotto. Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable and wonderful evening put together by a family that obviously loves what they do and cares for each patron. Highly recommended, you will not be disappointed.
(5)Robert D.
Kind of in the middle of the pack in terms of fanciness in the North End. There was ample space around the table - comfortable seating. Even as the restaurant got mostly full it wasn't too loud. Caprese was good. Bruschetta was hard as a rock. Had the special Shrimp and Lobster Fra Diavola. The shrimp and lobster were good but the sauce was a little bland. Nothing special. Plastic covered menus felt a little tacky. The big miss here, and I see this a lot in the North End, is red wine served at room temperature in an open air restaurant. Way too hot.
(3)Roma C.
I would have given one star for the horrible service but the food was good so I gave it two. I have been here a few times and came back for the food and the amazing chocolate lava cake. I will never be coming back because the service was so horrible. I have never felt so unwanted at a restaurant before. I came back this time with a groupon and the waitress was completely rude when she told us about about the rules of the groupon. She also decided to add her own rules of dishes not being able to be used with the groupon and adding money for certain dishes because of the groupon even though they were not on the rules when i purchased it. I did not want to argue and told her that was fine but she decided to repeat the rules of the groupon every time she came to the table again throughout the meal which was completely unnecessary and just made me feel so awkward using the groupon. Besides the waitress clearly being upset about me using the groupon, the restaurant was completely empty when I went and she clearly wanted us out of there so she could go home. I came to the restaurant at 7 15 which is by no means late and left within an hour. I was completely shocked at her behavior especially because it was not my fault the restaurant was empty. When it came down to the bill I am by no means a cheap person but don't like when someone takes advantage of me. The waitress decided to add the tip and tax before deducting the money for the groupon and to only compensate certain things because of her weird rules. I thought this was very odd and she really just wanted to guarantee herself a good tip. I left without complaining because I really didn't want to argue with her after she was so rude about the groupon. Needless to say I will never be coming back again.
(2)Elizabeth B.
Excellent food and very friendly staff! Highly recommend this restaurant in the North End.
(5)Julia I.
I went out to have dinner at North End with friends and Pellino's was the only restaurant that didn't have wait lines. That usually tels me that place not worse going to, but we were very hungry and didn't wan't to wait. We ordered a bottle of chianti $35, angel hair and meatballs $20 (overcooked angel hair and five less then inch in diameter meatballs), veal marsala $27 (veal had no taste and penne had tomato souce not marsala over them) and pesto mussels $12 (were great!) and two more appetizers and entrees. They charge $4 for splitting a plate. We were charged $200. We won't come back.
(2)Michael R.
Great food! The homemade pasta was amazing and the eggplant compote served with the bread was a homerun! Our waiter left a bit to be desired in the way of personality and overall service but the food made up for it.
(4)Bob M.
Dinner tonight before the Celtics game. A friendly welcome then Maria put homemade Italian bread on the table accompanied by a red pepper and eggplant dipping sauce. I loved the sauce, but the bread was so good that my wife savored the taste without any topping. For appetizers we had calamari, lightly breaded and golden brown, and Eggplant Napolean, which was thinly sliced layers of eggplant baked with mozzarella and sliced pieces of Parmisiano in a light tomato sauce. It practically melts in your mouth and made a nice counterpoint to the crisp calamari with fresh lemon. We had pasta dishes for our main courses, Frutti di Mare for her and Lobster and Shrimp Fra Diavlo for me. The Frutti included plenty of shrimp, mussels and cherry stone clams in a light flavorful tomato sauce. My Fra Diavlo didn't reach quite the same high level. The shrimp were jumbo and tasty, but the lobster was tough and stringy. My bride said that anyone foolish enough to order lobster in March except in a seafood restaurant did not get to take points off if it wasn't perfect. We decided to forego dessert, but had superb Cappicinos. Our cups were filled with wonderfully flavorful coffee topped with an inch of thick froth sprinkled with cinnamon. Perfect! Having focused on the food, I must mention that the service was very friendly and professional. In addition, the decor and presentation are simple and comfortable. The only improvement I would suggest is slightly larger tables, but that's not likely in the North End. We'll be back..
(5)Stephen R.
Earned every star and then some. Every dish was GREAT. The best dishes were INCREDIBLE. In fact, the lamb and the Porcini Mushroom Ravioli were perfect. I could write forever, but I wouldn't do it justice. Just go for yourself.
(5)Caitlin E.
My boyfriend wanted to take me out for my birthday in the North End on Saturday...but of course, by the time we wandered out at 9 pm most places had lines out the door! So we veered off on Prince Street and luckily, came upon Pellino's! We were warmly welcomed by the owner/chef Frank Pellino, even though it was late at night near closing time. We spent the next hour or so marveling at every dish that came our way--even the eggplant olive oil dip that came with the bread was fantastic! The red sauce on the mussels appetizer was so good that my boyfriend was eating it with a spoon (I would usually not approve, but that sauce really was amazing). I had the sole and my boyfriend had the veal parmigiana and both were excellent. This is true homemade Italian cooking at its finest--the flavors were rich and complex and everything was cooked to perfection. My fish was delicious and my boyfriend loved the veal. Even the broccoli that came with my fish was outstanding--perfectly seasoned, and cooked to the exact tenderness that it should be (not too gummy but not too hard/undercooked)!! We both agreed this was one of the best meals we've ever had, so I felt like I had to write a review and give Pellino's the props it deserved. Since this location has only been open for a few weeks (moved from Marblehead, as other reviewers have said) it wasn't that crowded yet, but I'm sure once people catch on this place too will have a line out the door.
(5)kathy l.
We were really impressed with the new atmosphere and the food was great. The stuffed veal with spinach was delicious. I had the salmon-it was poached which kept it very moist and flavorful. The bread and eggplant dip that was served in the beginning was really good.
(4)Bill M.
Meh... it really does describe the food, but I'm bumping up to A-OK because the service was good. This is where we went for my birthday, and really it might just be the fact that I'm use to certain things and set in my ways as an old man, but the food was forgetable. I had the lobster ravioli that didn't taste like it had any lobster in it with white sauce. The sauce was okay, just wasn't memorable. My girlfriend had eggplant parm and enjoyed that part, but we both had issue with the marinara sauce I don't know, but it seems that more and more places I go to that are italian, the straight up marinara sauce tastes jarred Ragu, but without any type of spices. This isn't the only place that has done it, but really, McKayla Maroney is not Impressed.
(3)Tom D.
Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. I came in last night for dinner and was very impressed with this new restaurant. I love lamb, so I ordered the full rack and it was cooked perfectly, had a wine sauce/glaze over it that was delicious. Also got the mushroom appetizer to start.. filo dough wrapped mushrooms/different cheeses and it was also really good, and not something I've seen on other North End restuarant menus. It's really refreshing to find a place that has some genuine culinary creativity. Service was also good, friendly waiter and nothing went wrong in that department. All around good restaurant.
(5)David N.
This place is a hidden gem in the North End. Off the beaten path, it's value far exceeds its side street location. Stopped in after looking around for a lunch option. Checked out their lunch menu, saw their great prices, and made our decision to dine in. We were quickly greeted and seated by a friendly host. Our decision paid off, as our lunch was amazing. Service, wait time, food quality, food quantity; all were top notch.The fried calamari app was greatly proportioned, cooked and seasoned to perfection, and the complimentary bread and oil were a nice treat. The accompanying greens salad (calamari plate) was fantastic, and the applied dressing was delectable. Our entrees consisted of the Veal Parmigiana (with spaghetti), Ziti Alfredo, and Baked Ziti. Every dish shined in its own way. Everything was hot, seasoned and cooked properly, and priced extremely competitive. Not many places in North End can you get an app, three entrees, and a few beers for what they charge. Most dishes price around 10 bucks, and leave plenty to devour. Had we not been so full, I'm sure we would've partook in their many dessert options. First time to Boston and the North End... Smiles all the way around. Our return business next time out was definitely earned. Keep it up Pellino's!
(5)Gray W.
Nice room. Attentive staff. Great appetizers. Linguini with little necks a bit salty otherwise yummy. Tagliatelle was good. Veal special would have been better not fried. Bread pudding and chocolate lava desserts were great! Order them early.
(3)J R.
Bought Groupon for restaurant-- If restaurants hate Groupon users-- why sell their services on Groupon? We went during 3 pm for a late lunch which was still the lunch menu-- however, since we were Groupon users-- they gave us the dinner menu. That's fine--ok, fine, we were on the cusp. If you are charging us dinner prices-- I expected dinner portions-- instead we got lunch portions. Not fine but I will tolerate. If you are charging us dinner prices-- if I wanted to add some garlic and olive oil why is there an add on charge of $3?? Not acceptable. As for the food-- I've had better. The bill came up to $160+. We of course trip the waitress before the groupon price. However, she was giving us a attitude the whole time. In the end, tons of competition in the North End. This SHOULD NOT be your North End destination. Mafia shake down for sure.
(1)Deanna B.
Absolutely LOVE this restaurant!!! I have been several times and it has never disappointed. It has become my top restaurant choice to bring out of town visitors and other locals alike. Everyone I have introduced this place to has been nothing but impressed, always asking to go back. The service has always been great, very attentive and personable, also great with recommendations. So not only is the service, location, and environment perfect, every meal I have had to this date has been fantastic! Every meal starts out with delicious bread and the best dip I can find, and whatever they do to their dressing makes it amazing . As for entrees, their Gnocchi Di Nonna is among my favorites, with the lobster ravioli not far behind. Definitely looking forward to many more delicious meals from here in the near future!
(5)Fred L.
My wife and I have eaten at this restaurant three times, and each time has been terrific. We were looking for a place to host a small wedding party and had a couple of meals there to try different dishes on the menu. Everything was delicious. We particularly liked the chicken parmigiana and the gnocci amatriciani (with pancetta, carmelized onions and smoked mozzarella). Among the appetizers, the eggplant Napoleon and the fried calamari were favorites. The owner and chef, Frank Pellino, could not have been more helpful in planning our wedding lunch. They handled a party of forty with ease and good humor, and everyone had a lovely time. We highly recommend Pellino's for either a romantic dinner for two or for small functions. Good food and great service.
(5)Joey B.
Lovely little restaurant. Friendly staff and delicious food. Had the classic bolognese and it was incredible. Wife has the lobster ravioli which she devoured.
(4)Laurie P.
Day trip to the city before my in-laws flight back to Ireland. Yelp brought us here for lunch, thanks! I had gnocchi di nonna, hubby and FIL had bolognese penne and MIL had chicken parmigiana. Each of us were delighted! Service was attentive and friendly. Highly recommend.
(5)John R.
Checking the menus in the North End where it is hard to find bad Italian food. Reading the menu at Pellinos and just about to walk away when the owner?/cook? came out and told us how good the food was, explaining that the pasta was homemade and how fresh alll the ingredients were. We decided to try it. Our first indication that there might be a problem was when the waitress asked us if we had a reservation in a restaurant that was empty at 4:45. We sat ordered a couple of glasses of wine. Wine by the glass was $10 which I thought was high especially when the glasses were brought to us about 1/4 full, maybe 3 oz of wine. We ordered a calamari appetizer, the sauce was bland. The waitress pretty much ignored us for about 1/2 hour never asking us if we needed refills for our drinks or if we wanted more water while we waited for a 3rd member of our party to arrive. She spent most of her time socializing with guests at another table. We placed our dinner order, ordered a bottle of wine and some soup. The soup came quickly and was very good as was the bread and dipping sauce. The main courses took forever while we were again ignored by the waitress who spent the entire time socializing with the other table. When the main dishes finally arrived about 40 minutes after ordering (there were very few people in the restaurant) the sauces were all much more bland than we would expect. The prices were high for what we got, the food was less than average and the service was terrible. This is one restaurant I will never visit again.
(1)CC K.
I'd like to give this 3 1/2 stars but I'm rounding down to 3 since there wasn't any wow factor for our meal. My husband and I came in for a light dinner. Just ordered entrees- chicken with risotto and linguine vongole. The chicken was tender but lacking salt. The vongole had maybe 10 clams in a shell. Clams were chewy nothing great and the linguine was a little boring. Food was overall decent but not worth going back for
(3)Zander B.
I thought the food was a 4 but the service was a 2. It's a WARM October night so the north end is packed. I understand its tough to get people all served but we were rushed out the door the second food was ordered. Appetizers and wine had to be ordered at once. I had the gnocchi and thought it was pretty good, my wife had the butternut squash ravioli which was excellent. If we could have relaxed and had better service I would have given it 4 stars. I would recommend it to a friend only if its not busy.
(3)Timothy W.
Nice place. We were greeted and waited upon very nicely. The food was very good. Not fabulous but very good. The tagliatelle was great along with the linguini + littlenecks, however the veal special was mediocre. But the star of the meal was the desserts. Both the cranberry pudding and the chocolate lava cake were A+. Overall, tasty food, good for a nice and reasonably priced meal.
(4)Tim S.
Visited Little Italy in Boston hoping too find something authentic......we found it. Food was delicious and was served with a smile. Don't find that combination very often so when I so I like to recognize the Restaurant.
(4)